**1. Introduction**

Binge Eating Disorder (BED) is the most common eating disorder (ED) in western countries, with lifetime prevalence averaging 1.57% [1]. In recognition of this growing prevalence, BED was included in the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) [2]. According to DSM-5 criteria, BED patients suffer from reoccurring binge eating episodes of ingesting large amounts of food in a short period of time, with associated loss of control over their food intake. Negative feelings such as shame or guilt accompany these episodes. The severity of the disorder depends on the frequency of binge eating episodes per week, with thresholds demarcating mild, moderate, severe, and extreme BED.

Obesity is a frequent co-morbidity in BED due to the high volume of food intake and lack of compensatory behaviors in BED patients [3]. In the German general population, 25.9% of men and 24.4% of women are considered obese by a body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m<sup>2</sup> [4]. Among individuals with BED symptoms, however, 41.7% are obese, compared with only 15.8% of individuals with no history of an ED [5]. Comorbid obesity in BED patients is a major cause for concern, as obesity is associated with a wide range of physical afflictions, including cardiovascular diseases, type II diabetes, and several cancers [6],

**Citation:** Sommer, L.M.; Halbeisen, G.; Erim, Y.; Paslakis, G. Two of a Kind? Mapping the Psychopathological Space between Obesity with and without Binge Eating Disorder. *Nutrients* **2021**, *13*, 3813. https://doi.org/10.3390/ nu13113813
