A preliminary analysis of binge episodes: comparison of a treatment-seeking sample of Black and White women

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to examine differences in the nutritional composition of binges, both qualitatively and quantitatively, between participants with binge eating disorder (BED) and bulimia nervosa (BN) taken from a sample of treatment-seeking Black and White women. Overall qualitative and quantitative differences between diagnostic categories, regardless of ethnicity, were also explored. METHOD: Patients seeking treatment for eating disorders were assessed on binge content. Black (n=26) and White (n=26) participants were matched on age and body mass index (BMI). RESULTS: The binges of individuals with BN were lower in percent protein, but higher in calories, carbohydrates, and sugar, than those individuals with BED. However, there was little difference as a function of ethnicity between treatment-seeking Black and White women. DISCUSSION: Preliminary data suggest that health professionals are faced with similar binge eating pathology, regardless of ethnicity, despite, probably, etiologic variation. The importance of the role of ethnicity in the expression of eating disorders is discussed.