The Eating Disorder Inventory in a UK National Health Service Obesity Clinic and its response to modest weight loss.
OBJECTIVE
Using the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI-2) to identify a normative range in a UK obese population referred to a specialist hospital obesity clinic and to assess the response of the scale to the nonsurgical treatment of obesity.


METHODS
A total of 100 obese (BMI>30) patients attending an obesity clinic completed the EDI-2. In a separate sample, 45 obese patients participated in a dietary weight loss program consisting of an acute (10 weeks) and a long-term (2 year) weight maintenance phase. The EDI-2 was administered at baseline and at the end of the acute weight loss phase.


RESULTS
Most obese subjects showed elevated scores for body dissatisfaction (BD), which improved with weight loss. Eight percent had EDI scores suggesting psychological traits central to eating disorders.


CONCLUSIONS
Most obese subjects do not have a trait central to an eating disorder as defined by the EDI-2, but do have high scores for BD that respond to weight loss. A few patients show scores suggesting an eating disorder that may benefit from psychological evaluation.
Centre for Obesity Research, Luton and Dunstable Hospital, Luton, LU4 0DZ Bedfordshire, UK. iranathan@hotmail.com
Ira C
IC
Packianathan
Maleyca
M
Sheikh
Sarah
S
Feben
Nick
N
Finer