Caloric intake patterns of nonpurge binge-eating women

Daily caloric intake of nonpurge binge-eating women was monitored over 28 days using food diaries to determine how caloric intake patterns were related to binge eating. The majority of participants had extreme fluctuations in daily caloric intake. Caloric intake for both nonbinge days and days preceding the highest-calorie binge days was significantly lower than caloric intake on binge days and highest-calorie binge days. The lower caloric intake was not low enough to cause physiological deprivation. Although there was not physiological deprivation of calories, the individual may have felt that she ate less than desired, which may have contributed to subsequent binge eating.