Functional impairment associated with bulimic behaviors in a community sample of men and women.
OBJECTIVE
To examine functional impairment associated with bulimic behaviors in a community sample of men and women.


METHODS
Binge eating, purging, fasting, extreme weight and shape concerns, and "days-out-of-role" were assessed in a community sample of men (n = 1,290) and women (n = 1,757) aged 15-94 years.


RESULTS
Participants who reported regular eating disorder behaviors had higher levels of functional impairment than those who did not. This was the case for both men and women and for each of the behaviors assessed, although differences between purgers and nonpurgers were not statistically significant. Also in both men and women, participants who reported eating disorder behaviors and weight or shape concerns had higher levels of impairment than those who reported these behaviors in the absence of weight or shape concerns. In multivariate analysis, binge eating, fasting and weight or shape concerns all contributed to the likelihood of impairment in men, whereas only the presence of weight or shape concerns was significantly associated with impairment in women.


CONCLUSIONS
Whereas bulimic behaviors are associated with elevated levels of functional impairment in both men and women, weight or shape concerns may be more central to the experience of this impairment in women.
Mond
Jonathan M
JM
School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora VIC 3083, Australia. j.mond@latrobe.edu.au
Hay
Phillipa J
PJ
D000041:Absenteeism; D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001828:Body Image; D001835:Body Weight; D002032:Bulimia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000523:psychology; D005215:Fasting / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D013021:South Australia