There are large correlations between binge eating and work productivity impairment among employees, according to a study by Wellness & Prevention Inc., which was published in the April issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

The study defines binge eating as overeating combined with a sense of loss of control and states it is a primary contributor to obesity. Researchers estimate that a company with 1,000 employees experiences an annual productivity loss of $107,965.00 because of binge eating, suggesting that efforts to cut productivity impairment should focus on binge eating as a modifiable risk behavior. 

Although binge eating is considered an underreported health risk behavior, possibly because of the negative connotations associated with overeating, many studies reveal that individuals could be more likely to admit to this behavior in a computer-based health risk assessment as opposed to a face-to-face or written assessment.