A comparison of normals, mild, moderate, and severe binge eaters, and binge vomiters using discriminant function analysis

There were 158 female undergraduates categorized on the basis of scores on the Binge Scale and the presence or absence of vomiting in five groups: normals (n = 73), mild (n = 23), moderate (n =23), and severe (n = 14) bingers and binge vomiters (n = 18). These groups were examined on measures of eating-disorders, dietary restraint, negative self-image, psychopathology, and social desirability. A discriminant function analysis isolated three variables that predicted group membership: drive for thinness, restraint, and negative self-image. It was clear from the analysis that binge-vomiters were highly similar to severe binge eaters and both differed from moderate binge eaters, who in turn differed from mild binge eaters and normals. The latter two groups were almost identical. The results point to the importance of bingeing rather than vomiting in the etiology and treatment of bulimia.