EATING PATHOLOGY IN BULIMIA-NERVOSA

Degree of eating pathology in bulimia nervosa was assessed using the Eating Behavior Rating Scale (EBRS) across three videotaped eating sessions. Twelve bulimic and 12 non-eating disordered subjects participated in this study. All subjects were filmed during a baseline meat (ad libitum), a high-calorie meal, and a low-calorie meal (both fixed amounts). Mean EBRS scores were significantly higher for bulimics (12.6 +/- 1.7) than for controls (3.9 +/- 0.9), suggesting a higher degree of eating pathology in these patients. Affect during eating was significantly more negative in the bulimic patients. EBRS and affect scores were significantly correlated [r (11) = .813, p < .01]. Bulimics had a slower rate of eating than controls and took significantly longer to initiate eating. Scores of pathological eating correlated with scores on the Eating Attitudes Test and the Bulimic investigatory Test-Edinburgh, indicating a relationship between objective measures of pathological eating and self-report measures of eating disorder symptoms.