Aim: The aim of this analysis is to develop a better understanding of the concept of binge-eating behavior among African American women (AAW).
Background: Obesity is a major public health concern that is disproportionately prevalent among AAW. Among the factors that contribute to obesity development, binge eating may be of significant concern to AAW.
Design: A critical analysis and synthesis of the empirical literature using Walker and Avant's model for concept analysis. The databases MEDLINE, Cumulative Index to Nursing Health Literature (CINAHL) Complete, PsycINFO, and PsycARTICLES were used. Keywords included binge eating AND African American women or Black women race or ethnicity or minority.
Results: Binge eating is a behavior that exists on a continuum that involves the overconsumption of food, with or without loss of control (LOC), whereas binge eating with LOC is related to increased impairment and severity. While the main attribute of binge eating involves the consumption of a large amount of food, the LOC component of binge eating definition may not be culturally relevant criteria to include as a requirement, as it may exclude AAW in diagnostics and subsequent treatment as well as overlook the health implications of binge eating regardless of LOC endorsement.
Conclusion: Including LOC in defining binge-eating behavior among AAW is significant, but should not be necessitated. This concept analysis illustrates the complexities related to binge-eating behavior among AAW, enumerating the characteristics of binge eating that may be unique to certain populations. The definition for binge eating among AAW developed from this concept analysis needs to be further explored in future studies.
Keywords: concept analysis; public health; women's health.
© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.