A Comprehensive Analysis of the Impact of Binge Eating Disorders on Lifestyle in Spain

Background/Objectives: Binge Eating Disorders are severe mental and physical health conditions, closely linked to lifestyle habits. The aims are to describe the prevalence of Binge Eating Disorders and their correlation with nutritional habits and lifestyle factors within the Spanish population. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional design was employed. Using non-probabilistic snowball sampling, an electronic survey was released. A total of 22,181 Spanish adults were evaluated, excluding those with any pathology or limitation at the time of survey response that could potentially affect their diet, such as hospitalization or confinement. The validated Nutritional and Social Healthy Habits (NutSo-HH) scale was used to collect data on nutrition, lifestyle, health habits, and socio-demographic variables. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used. Non-parametric tests were applied due to non-normal distribution. Results: Of the 22,181 sample subject (80.8% female), a total number of 260 individuals reported Binge Eating Disorder. The prevalence of Binge Eating Disorder was higher in women than in men (239 vs. 21 respectfully; 91.9%). Individuals with Binge Eating Disorder exhibited poorer nutritional indices (p < 0.001), higher consumption of ultra-processed and fast food (p < 0.001), sugary soft drinks (p = 0.01), and worse sleep quality (p < 0.001). Although time dedicated to physical activity was not different, individuals with Binge Eating Disorder were more sedentary and had lower health status (p = 0.11 for sport practice). Behavioral regulation plays a key role in managing BED, highlighting the need for personalized intervention strategies. Conclusions: Binge Eating Disorders are associated with lifestyle and health habits and worse quality of life. These data can help design public health programs for early detection and effective treatment.