Importance of Size in Defining Binge Eating Episodes in Bulimia Nervosa

Objective: This study sought to determine if amount of food consumed is important in defining binge eating episodes in individuals with bulimia nervosa (BN).

Method: Women (N = 30) with DSM-IV BN (OBN) and women (N = 25) who would have met DSM-IV criteria for BN except that their binge episodes were not objectively large (SBN) were recruited from the community. Subjects completed telephone interviews and questionnaires.

Results: Results demonstrated no significant differences between women with OBN and SBN in levels of dietary restraint, disinhibition, or hunger; no significant differences in general psychopathology; and significant differences in frequency of binge/purge episodes and impulsiveness. Differences in impulsiveness remained after controlling for frequency of binge/purge episodes.

Discussion: These results partially validate current diagnostic criteria for bulimia nervosa and elucidate one factor, impulsiveness, that may be important in understanding objective binge episodes in bulimia nervosa.