The relation of weight suppression and BMI to bulimic symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: High levels of weight suppression have been associated with greater binge eating and weight gain as well as poorer treatment outcome in bulimia nervosa. This study examined the relationship between weight suppression and bulimia nervosa symptoms and explored how weight suppression might interact with body mass index (BMI) in accounting for level of symptomatology at presentation for treatment.

METHOD: Participants were 64 women with threshold or sub-threshold bulimia nervosa. A clinical interview assessed binge eating and purging.

RESULTS: Weight suppression and the interaction between BMI and weight suppression predicted frequency of binge eating such that participants with low BMI and high weight suppression engaged in the most binge eating. High levels of weight suppression also predicted more frequent purging.

DISCUSSION: Additional research is warranted to examine mediators of these relationships.