Characteristics of binge eating in bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder: A review and empirical investigation

Bulimia nervosa (BN) and binge eating disorder (BED) are both eating disorders characterized by recurrent binge eating episodes. Although the operational definition of binge eating is essentially the same for BN and BED, understanding potential similarities and differences in binge eating behavior is critical to evaluate the nosological status of BED as a unique diagnosis and to inform treatment and prevention efforts. The overarching purpose of this paper is two-fold: 1) to provide a literature review of data comparing binge eating behavior in individuals with BN and BED; and, 2) to present data examining differences in preferred binge foods and binge eating-related symptoms in a group of women with BN and BED. The literature review revealed many similarities and some important differences between the disorders with regards to binge size, food preferences and macronutrient intake, temporal patterns of eating, and hedonics. Data comparing preferred binge foods and binge eating-related symptoms in women with BN (n = 9) and BED (n = 12) indicated that women with BED identify salty snacks and oilbased foods as preferred binge foods more frequently than women with BN. Additionally, women with BN reported feeling more "miserable or annoyed" following a binge eating episode than women with BED. As a whole, these results suggest that some aspects of binge eating appear similar in women with BN and BED whereas others do not.