Influence of shape and weight on self-evaluation in bulimia nervosa.

OBJECTIVE

To compare three related but different measures of excessive concerns about shape and weight in bulimia nervosa (BN): influence of shape and weight (influence; DSM-IV Criterion D), overconcern with shape and weight (overconcern; DSM-III-R Criterion E), and dissatisfaction with shape and weight (dissatisfaction).

METHOD: One-hundred twenty BN patients, 27 restrained eaters (RE), and 28 normal controls (NC) were assessed via the Eating Disorders Examination and self-report measures.

RESULTS

Influence and overconcern, but not dissatisfaction, successfully discriminated BNs from NCs but not from REs. A minority of patients with BN obtained low scores on both influence and overconcern. However, there were few differences between those patients with low scores and those with high scores on numerous clinical characteristics.

DISCUSSION: Influence and overconcern are equally valid measures of the excessive concerns about shape and weight characteristic of BN.