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Eating pathology in bulimia nervosa
M M Hetherington1, A R Spalter, A S Bernat
1Department of Psychology, University of Dundee, Scotland.
The International Journal of Eating Disorders
|January 1, 1993
Summary
Bulimia nervosa patients exhibit greater eating pathology, evidenced by higher Eating Behavior Rating Scale scores and more negative affect during meals compared to controls. Objective eating behaviors also differed significantly.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Psychology
- Psychiatry
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Bulimia nervosa is characterized by significant eating pathology.
- Objective assessment of eating behaviors in bulimia nervosa is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To objectively assess the degree of eating pathology in bulimia nervosa patients.
- To compare eating behaviors and affect during meals between bulimic individuals and controls.
- To explore the relationship between objective eating measures and self-report symptom scales.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Eating Behavior Rating Scale (EBRS) to quantify eating pathology.
- Videotaped three eating sessions: baseline (ad libitum), high-calorie, and low-calorie meals.
- Recruited 12 individuals with bulimia nervosa and 12 healthy controls.
Main Results:
- Bulimic subjects showed significantly higher mean EBRS scores than controls.
- Bulimic patients experienced more negative affect during eating, correlated with EBRS scores.
- Bulimics exhibited slower eating rates and delayed eating initiation compared to controls.
Conclusions:
- Objective measures confirm heightened eating pathology in bulimia nervosa.
- Eating behavior patterns and negative affect are distinct in bulimic individuals.
- Objective eating pathology scores correlate with established self-report measures of eating disorders.