[Occurrence of bulimic behavior among a group of Danish medical students]

As part of a prospective survey of Danish medical student's conditions we looked into the question of the frequency of bulimic behaviour in this group of students. One hundred and ninety-one (75.2%) of 254 students matriculated during 1992-1993 answered a minor structured questionnaire in 1994 about their eating habits, weight and weight control and perception of their bodies. Body mass index was calculated. Forty-five percent of the women and 15.2% of the men admitted to binge-eating, 28.0% of the women and 9.1% of the men admitted to binge-eating together with some kind of weight regulation. Fifty-six percent of the women and 25.8% of the men used some weight regulating procedures, most often exercising and eating less of sweet and fattening foods. Only a very few admitted to self-induced vomiting. Binge eating was clearly related to suppressing depressive and negative feelings. Almost 30% of the women were underweight (BMI < 20) but felt themselves to be a normal weight. The male students seemed to be more satisfied with their body and psyche than the women who more often felt overweight and were prone to binge-eating when they felt depressed, and consequently had to regulate their weight in order to live up to their ideals. In order to elucidate the magnitude of the problem of bulimic behaviour and the consequences, we need further surveys of other groups in the Danish population.