A preliminary examination of a nonpurging compensatory eating disorder

• Published in: The International journal of eating disorders 2014-04, Vol.47 (3), p.239-243
• Main Authors: Davis, Heather A., Holland, Lauren A., Keel, Pamela K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Analysis of Variance; Anxiety - psychology; Binge-Eating Disorder - classification; Binge-Eating Disorder - diagnosis; Binge-Eating Disorder - psychology; Body Image - psychology; Body Mass Index; Bulimia; Bulimia Nervosa - classification; Bulimia Nervosa - diagnosis; Bulimia Nervosa - psychology; Case-Control Studies; compensatory behaviors; Correlation analysis; Diet, Reducing - psychology; eating disorder; Eating disorders; exercise; Exercise - psychology; fasting; Fasting - psychology; Female; Humans; Interviews as Topic; Middle Aged; Psychometrics; Psychopathology; Risk Factors; Self image; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time Factors; Walking - psychology; Weight; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0276-3478; 1098-108X
• DOI: 10.1002/eat.22191

Objective To evaluate correlates of a compensatory eating disorder (CED) characterized by recurrent nonpurging compensatory behaviors in the absence of objectively large binge episodes among normal weight individuals who endorse undue influence of weight/shape on self‐evaluation as possible indicators of clinical significance and distinctiveness. Method Women with CED (n = 20), women with bulimia nervosa (BN) (n = 20), and controls (n = 20) completed an interview and questionnaires assessing eating disorder and general psychopathology and weight history. Results Compared with controls, women with CED reported significantly greater body image disturbance and disordered eating, higher anxiety proneness, increased perfectionism, and greater weight suppression. Compared with BN, CED was associated with significantly less body image disturbance, disordered eating, weight suppression, and lower likelihood of being overweight in childhood. However, CED and BN did not differ on anxiety proneness or perfectionism. Discussion CED merits further examination to determine whether it is a clinically significant and distinct eating disorder. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2014; 47:239–243)