Binge eating: a theoretical review

Bulimia and binge eating in adolescent females: a comparison

The present study compared the following four groups on characteristics commonly associated with eating disorders: bulimics (n = 17) who met the DSM-III criteria for bulimia; severe bingers (n = 16) who binged frequently and experienced negative emotions associated with the binging but did not meet the DSM-III criteria for bulimia; mild bingers (n = 16), who only reported engaging in binge eating; and normals (n = 17), who neither binged, fasted, or purged. A one-way MANOVA comparing the four groups was significant. Post-hoc univariate ANOVAs indicated the bulimics and severe bingers experienced significantly more maladaptive eating attitudes, greater stress, greater depression, and greater discrepancies between their current and ideal weight than mild bingers and normals. Bulimics experienced significantly lower self-esteem than the mild bingers and normals and all three eating disordered groups reported significantly more frequent alcohol use than the normals. Theoretical and diagnostic implications of these findings are discussed.

Binge eating and dietary restraint in obese patients

The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence and severity of binge eating among 432 women seeking behavioral treatment for obesity and to assess the relationship between binge eating and dietary restraint. Subjects completed standardized self-report questionnaires which assessed the severity of binge eating and habitual dietary restraint. Binge eating was extremely prevalent, with 46% of subjects reporting serious problems. Serious binge eating was more common in younger and heavier subjects. Further, binge eating severity was significantly related to overall dietary restraint. The current findings indicate that the treatments of binge eating may need to be considered in planning behavioral programs for the obese.

Suppression of bulimic symptoms with methylamphetamine

Eight patients with bulimia nervosa were given methylamphetamine or placebo intravenously under double blind controlled conditions. In every patient, methylamphetamine reduced self-ratings of hunger and amount of food eaten as measured under laboratory conditions. This shows that the food intake of patients with bulimia nervosa can be modified by experimental drugs. The symptom of bulimia (rapid, excessive and distressing eating) which may be followed by self-induced vomiting or purgation was seen in four patients after receiving placebo but in none after receiving methylamphetamine. These findings suggest that the severe symptom of bulimia may be amenable to drug treatment. Further studies are needed to explore the mechanism by which methylamphetamine appears to prevent bulimia.

Bulimia nervosa: sex role attitude, sex role behavior, and sex role related locus of control in bulimarexic women

Thirty-four women with bulimia nervosa and 34 women without bulimarexic symptoms (but matched for age, weight, deviance from ideal weight, and educational status) were compared as to how liberated their attitude towards the woman's role in society (= their sex role attitude, SRA) and their actual own behavior as females (= their sex role behavior, SRB) were. The degree to which their general attitude towards sex role and their own sex role behavior differed from each other was also investigated. Experimental and control group were also compared concerning their sex role related locus of control (SRLC). SRA and SRB were significantly less liberated in the bulimarexic group than in the control group. In addition, the bulimarexic group showed a wide gap between their general attitude (SRA) and actual behavior (SRB) as to the degree of liberation. No such discrepancy was found in the control subjects. The sex related locus of control data showed that bulimarexic women had significantly higher external and fatalistic control, and lower internal control than the comparison subjects.

A cognitive behavioural approach to the treatment of bulimia

Bulimia nervosa is a relatively common eating disorder which has a significant physical and psychological morbidity and a poor prognosis. A behavioural approach to its treatment is described. This focuses on increasing control over eating, eliminating food avoidance and changing maladaptive attitudes. Preliminary findings are promising, with improvement appearing to be maintained. Components of the treatment may benefit patients who simply complain of overeating.