Fluid intake, personality and behaviour in patients with eating disorders.
OBJECTIVE
To examine psychological and behavioural variables associated with the disordered fluid intake of 112 eating disorder patients.


METHODS
Fluid intake history for previous seven days, and standardized psychological and behavioural measures of eating disorders, mood, personality and health, were completed on admission to hospital.


RESULTS
Only behaviours associated with eating disorders were associated with fluid intake. Greater amounts of total and energy-free fluids are consumed if patients report overeating, binge eating and dieting between overeating more frequently, drinking more caffeine-containing energy free drinks, vomiting and using laxatives. Energy-containing fluid intake is higher if patients feel their body weight is less important and if they binge eat. There is a significant difference in the amount of fluid drunk (ml or ml/kg) by patients with bulimia nervosa (BN) when compared to patients with no current diagnosis but not compared with anorexia nervosa (AN) or eating disorders not otherwise specified (EDNOS) patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Fluid intake is associated with eating disorder behaviour rather than personality and psychological variables. Patients eating more drink more.
Abraham
S F
SF
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Sydney, Royal North Shore Hospital, NSW, 2065, Australia. sabraham@med.usyd.edu.au
Hart
S
S
Luscombe
G
G
Russell
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology; D004327:Drinking Behavior; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010551:Personality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires