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 Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) - Clinician Version. Metrics such as internal consistency, test-retest reliability, predictive validity, 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 scores (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC)=0.875 p<0.001).
Conclusion: These results suggest that the Turkish version of the BES is a valid and reliable screening instrument for BED in adults with obesity.