BINGE-EATING VERSUS NONPURGED EATING IN BULIMICS - IS THERE A CARBOHYDRATE CRAVING AFTER ALL

Food selection and macro nutrient content were evaluated in a group of bulimic subjects, both during the nonpurged intake and the bingeing. Dietary data was assessed by single 24-hour recall. As expected, energ y distribution and food selection differed markedly between the nonpur ged diet and the binges. The main differences were related to an inver se relationship in the order of macro nutrients, fat being the dominan t and protein the least important source of macro nutrients during bin ge eating. The nutrient content during binges admittedly had a prepond erance for fat. Nevertheless, the primary choice of food items during binges was carbohydrates, which was shown both by a greater quantity a nd by the subjects' own desires.