Psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Binge Eating Scale in detecting binge eating disorder among people seeking treatment for obesity

Abstract

Objective: Binge eating is a common behavior among individuals with obesity. The Binge Eating Scale (BES) is a widely utilized tool to assess binge eating behavior. Originally created in English, it has been validated in various languages. The aim of this study is to present psychometric evidence supporting the Turkish version of the BES in diagnosing Binge Eating Disorder (BED) in individuals with obesity. Method: The Turkish version was developed through translation and back translation from the original English version. The binge eating behavior of 188 obese adult patients, who sought treatment at an obesity outpatient clinic, was assessed using the BES and a psychiatric assessment with the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental factor analysis, and diagnostic measures were calculated.Results: The Turkish version of the BES demonstrated a one-factor structure with high internal consistency (Cronbach alpha: 0.843). At a cut-off point of 18, the BES showed a sensitivity of 72.09%, specificity of 79.31%, a positive predictive value of 50.80%, and a negative predictive value of 66.7%. The test-retest reliability indicated significant agreement between the BES scoresConclusion: These results suggest that the Turkish version of the BES is a valid and reliable screening instrument for BED in adults with obesity.