BULIMIA-NERVOSA, RESTRAINED, AND UNRESTRAINED EATERS - A COMPARISON OF NON-BINGE EATING BEHAVIOR

Objective: This study investigated non-binge eating behavior in bulimi a nervosa, restrained and unrestrained eaters. Method: Nine females wi th bulimia nervosa, 12 female restrained eaters, and 13 female unrestr ained eaters were administered the Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2) the Body Shape Questionnaire, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Rose nberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the Revised Restraint Scale (RRS). All su bjects were videotaped during a midday meal and their eating behavior was subsequently rated using the Eating Behaviour Rating Scale (EBRS). Results: EBRS ratings were higher for bulimic than for unrestrained s ubjects. Restrained subjects' ratings did not differ from those of eit her bulimic or unrestrained subjects. EBRS scores were positively corr elated with RRS and EDI-2 total scores. Conclusions: Bulimic subjects display aberrant eating behavior, and the extent to which subjects eng age in maladaptive eating behavior is related to the degree of eating pathology. These results support the utility of the EBRS as a useful i ndex of eating behaviors in clinical and nonclinical populations. (C) 1998 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.