Bulimia nervosa, restrained, and unrestrained eaters: a comparison of non-binge eating behavior.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated non-binge eating behavior in bulimia nervosa, restrained and unrestrained eaters.

METHOD: Nine females with bulimia nervosa, 12 female restrained eaters, and 13 female unrestrained eaters were administered the Eating Disorder Inventory-2 (EDI-2), the Body Shape Questionnaire, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the Revised Restraint Scale (RRS). All subjects 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 subjects. Restrained subjects' ratings did not differ from those of either bulimic or unrestrained subjects. EBRS scores were positively correlated with RRS and EDI-2 total scores.

CONCLUSIONS

Bulimic subjects display aberrant eating behavior, and the extent to which subjects engage in maladaptive eating behavior is related to the degree of eating pathology. These results support the utility of the EBRS as a useful index of eating behaviors in clinical and nonclinical populations.