Critical variables associated with bingeing and bulimia in a university population: A factor analytic study

Psychometric data and intercorrelations among 24 variables associated with bingeeating and bulimia were reported for a sample of 158 female university students. A factor analysis was performed which extracted five factors: binge-restraint dynamics, psychopathology, social dysfunction, weight and body shape, and achievement. Variables loading on each of these factors were discussed in terms of the theoretical conception of the eating disorders in the literature. It was concluded that the orthogonality of the dimensions suggests that many of the problems that have been associated with severe binge-eating and bulimia may be common problems associated with this type of population and not unique to the disorders.