PREVALENCE OF BULIMIC BEHAVIORS AND BULIMIA AMONG A SAMPLE OF THE GENERAL-POPULATION

Data are presented on the prevalence of bulimic symptoms and bulimia a mong a sample of adults residing in north-central Florida (n = 2,075). The data were gathered between 1984 and 1986. The sample included 1,7 36 whites and 339 blacks, of whom 1,040 were females and 1,035 were ma les. A current diagnosis of bulimia was made using the criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Third Edition (DSM-III), of the Am erican Psychiatric Association. Females had significantly higher rates than did males on nine of the 10 bulimic symptoms. Blacks had symptom rates equal to or greater than whites on eight of the 10 items, and t hose in the lowest socioeconomic groups (SES) had rates greater than t hose in the highest SES group on nine of the 10 symptoms. Eight person s, 0.4% of the total sample, met the DSM-III criteria for a diagnosis of bulimia. These included six white females and two black males. Five of the females were aged 18-29 years; one was over 45. Five of the fe males were in the lower middle SES group; one was in the upper middle SES group. Both of the black males were aged 30-44, and both were in t he lowest SES group. The data emphasize the need to distinguish betwee n bulimic type symptoms and bulimia when estimating the prevalence of eating-related problems in the general population.