Differences between binge eating disorder and nonpurging bulimia nervosa

OBJECTIVE: To compare the pathway to binge eating and clinical characteristics of binge eating disorder patients (BED) and nonpurging bulimics. METHODS: The subjects were 45 nonpurging bulimics and 45 BED patients who consecutively sought treatment in an outpatient eating disorders unit. The subjects underwent a clinical interview and replied to the Eating Disorders Inventory and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist. RESULTS: In most of the nonpurging bulimics (89%), binge eating is preceded by dieting and weight loss, whereas among BED patients the pathway to binge eating is more variable. Previous episodes of anorexia nervosa are significantly more frequent among nonpurging bulimics than among BED patients. The two groups did not differ in other clinical and psychological characteristics, such as psychiatric symptoms, frequency of binging, and impulsivity traits. However, on many of the variables, the BED group shows a significantly greater variance. DISCUSSION: Unlike nonpurging bulimics, BED patients appear to form a more heterogeneous group.