EATING BEHAVIOR IN BULIMIA-NERVOSA - MULTIPLE MEAL ANALYSES

Ten bulimic individuals were admitted to an inpatient unit and for 7 c onsecutive days eating behavior was observed and recorded. Age, sex, a nd weight-matched control subjects (n = 10) were admitted to the same unit for 4 d. Ail food and fluid intake, frequency of binge eating and purging, and ratings of appetite and mood before and after eating wer e recorded every 24 h. Bulimic patients demonstrated chaotic eating pa tterns that varied within; as well as between individuals. Total daily energy intake was significantly higher for bulimic patients (41982 +/ - 113 kJ; 10 034 +/- 2701 kcal) than for control subjects (8050 +/- 04 27 kJ; 1924 +/- 102 kcal). On average, patients binged 1.6 times, purg ed three times, and ate one snack or meal without purging daily. Macro nutrient analyses of intake revealed significantly less energy from pr otein and more energy from fat in bulimic patients compared with contr ol subjects. Some improvement of mood was noted after binges, the magn itude of which was greatest after purging.