Binge eating disorder: A need for additional diagnostic criteria

This study compares the core and associated features of binge eating disord er (BED) and bulimia nervosa (BN), One hundred twenty-nine adult females wh o were obese with BED (n = 51) or non-obese with BED (n = 32) or who had BN (n = 46) were compared using the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q), The BED groups were older and had a higher body mass index (BMI), The 3 groups were similar in binge frequency, but BN subjects (by definiti on) purged regularly. The groups differed by dietary restraint, even after controlling for BMI and age, such that the BN group had significantly highe r dietary restraint than both BED groups. Cognitively, the 3 groups were si milar in the intensity of dysfunctional attitudes regarding eating, weight, and shape. The BMI and age were not associated with these dysfunctional at titudes. Our findings suggest the importance of and the need to consider co gnitive-as well as behavioral-diagnostic criteria for BED. Copyright (C) 20 00 by W.B. Saunders Company.