title: Ecologic momentary assessment of eating-disordered behaviors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This pilot study evaluated the feasibility of ecologic momentary assessment (EMA) to measure five eating disorder behaviors and to examine reactivity of these behaviors to this measurement approach. The pattern of correspondence between EMA and the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) was also examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women with threshold or subthreshold anorexia and bulimia nervosa (N=16) recorded their eating disorder behaviors for 4 weeks on a hand-held computer. Upon completion of the EMA procedure, the EDE was administered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-eight percent of the sample completed the EMA behavioral recording. No differences in behavioral frequency were found in the first and second halves of the EMA measurement period, suggesting that behaviors were not reactive to the methodology. Binging and excessive exercise were lower when measured by EMA compared with the EDE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that EMA is a feasible and valid approach to the measurement of disordered eating behaviors.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-0482, USA. kfarchau@umich.edu
authors.forename: Karen Farchaus
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: Colleen M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Corte
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000145:classification* / Q000523:psychology; D002032:Bulimia / Q000145:classification* / Q000523:psychology; D003625:Data Collection; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans