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A test of the continuity perspective across bulimic and binge eating pathology
Author(s) -
Fitzgibbon Marian L.,
SánchezJohnsen Lisa A.P.,
Martinovich Zoran
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/eat.10160
Subject(s) - psychology , binge eating , perspective (graphical) , clinical psychology , eating disorders , disordered eating , psychiatry , depression (economics) , developmental psychology , artificial intelligence , computer science , economics , macroeconomics
Objective This article examines the continuity/discontinuity perspective of eating pathology among 375 women seeking treatment. Methods Participants were categorized into five separate groups: obese nonbingers, subthreshold binge eating disorder (BED), BED, subthreshold bulimics, and bulimics. We tested whether differences in core eating pathology (drive for thinness, body dissatisfaction, current body image, body image ideal) and psychiatric symptoms (depression, interoceptive awareness) differentiated the groups quantitatively (supporting the continuity perspective) or qualitatively (supporting the discontinuity perspective). Results Our results, overall, supported the continuity perspective of eating pathology. A discriminant function analysis using the eating pathology and psychiatric symptom variables as predictor variables found that one primary factor differentiated the five groups on both core eating pathology and psychiatric variables. Discussion The implications of testing this model within a treatment‐seeking sample are discussed. © 2003 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 34: 83–97, 2003.