ELEVATED TOTAL CHOLESTEROL IN BULIMIA-NERVOSA

Objective: It has been suggested that total serum cholesterol concentr ations are elevated in bulimia nervosa. The objectives of this study w ere to compare cholesterol concentrations in women with bulimia nervos a with those of depressed women and population norms and to determine the dietary correlates of elevated cholesterol concentrations. Methods : 126 women with bulimia nervosa and 57 women with major depression pa rticipating in clinical trials were studied. Total serum cholesterol c oncentrations were available for all participants. Prospective 2-week dietary intake analysis was examined for 49 of the bulimic women. Resu lts: Bulimic women had markedly higher total cholesterol concentration s than depressed women and in comparison to consensus recommendations and population norms. This finding remained highly statistically signi ficant after taking into account an array of potential physical and ps ychopathological covariates. Dietary analysis suggested that increased total cholesterol concentrations were related to cholesterol and fat intake during binge eating, but not during normal eating. Discussion: Bulimic women have higher total cholesterol concentrations that are re lated to excess cholesterol and fat intake during binge eating. (C) 19 98 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.