Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026

Assessing Activity-based Anorexia in Mice
Published on: May 14, 2018
The relation of weight suppression and BMI to bulimic symptoms
Meghan L Butryn1, Adrienne Juarascio, Michael R Lowe
1Drexel University, Department of Psychology, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. mlb34@drexel.edu
Objective:
High levels of weight suppression have been associated with greater binge eating and weight gain as well as poorer treatment outcome in bulimia nervosa. This study examined the relationship between weight suppression and bulimia nervosa symptoms and explored how weight suppression might interact with body mass index (BMI) in accounting for level of symptomatology at presentation for treatment.
Method:
Participants were 64 women with threshold or sub-threshold bulimia nervosa. A clinical interview assessed binge eating and purging.
Results:
Weight suppression and the interaction between BMI and weight suppression predicted frequency of binge eating such that participants with low BMI and high weight suppression engaged in the most binge eating. High levels of weight suppression also predicted more frequent purging.
Discussion:
Additional research is warranted to examine mediators of these relationships.
Related Concept Videos
Bulimia Nervosa
Binge Eating Disorders
Anorexia Nervosa
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
Obesity
Drug Dosing: Obese Patients
Dysbiosis of the Gut Microbiota

