Subthreshold binge eating disorder

Objective: To examine the clinical features of subthreshold binge eating di sorder (BED). Method: Participants were recruited directly from the communi ty as part of an ongoing study of risk factors for BED. Forty-four women wi th subthreshold BED were compared with 44 women with BED and 44 healthy con trols on demographic characteristics, body mass index (BMI), eating disorde r symptomatology, and psychiatric distress. Diagnoses were established usin g the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE). Participants completed the EDE-Que stionnaire, the Brief Symptom Inventory, and were measured and weighed. Res ults: Adjusting for significant group differences in BMI, the two eating di sorder groups did not differ significantly on measures of weight and shape concern, restraint, psychiatric distress, and history of seeking treatment for an eating or weight problem. Discussion: Given the importance of diagno stic status for access to treatment, further evaluation of the severity cri terion specified for BED is needed. (C) 2000 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.