A pilot study of eating behaviors in women with and without self‐reported eating disorders, as assessed by a Universal Eating Monitor

This pilot study explored eating behaviors in women with self‐reported Eating Disorders (ED, N=10, BMI=25.0 ± 2.5, age=22.7 ± 5.4) and without (Non‐ED, N=10, BMI=25.7 ± 4.5, age=21.3 ± 3.1) by questionnaires, open‐ended questions and a Universal Eating Monitor (UEM). ED subjects met DSM‐IV criteria for bulimia nervosa (BN, n=5) and binge eating disorder (n=5) (screened by URI's RD). During an ad libitum lunch test on the UEM, food and water intake, eating rate (ER) and bite size (BS) were similar among groups. All groups were decelerated eaters. ED subjects showed shorter meal duration ( p =.05, partial η 2 =.220) and lower Satiety Quotient for desire to eat, indicating less suppression of appetite per gram ( p <.05, partial η 2 =.225) than Non‐ED subjects. ER was positively related with food intake (r=.54, p <.05), waist circumference (r=.47, p <.05), but not with meal duration. Perceived stress was positively related with ER and BS in the meal's 4 th quartile (r=.48, r=.47, n=20, p <.05, respectively). Questionnaires showed greater compensatory restraint, perceived stress, craving for sweets, weight fluctuation and emotional eating in BN. Qualitative data showed that family, friends and partners affect how they eat. As the meal comes to an end, they are less aware of how much they have eaten and feel guilty. This, in combination with the UEM data, suggests that desire to eat may be crucial in understanding eating behaviors in EDs. Grant Funding Source : This study was supported by an ENHANCEMENT OF GRADUATE RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP GRANT 2009.