Objective

To examine the clinical features of subthreshold binge eating disorder (BED).

Method

Participants were recruited directly from the community as part of an ongoing study of risk factors for BED. Forty-four women with subthreshold BED were compared with 44 women with BED and 44 healthy controls on demographic characteristics, body mass index (BMI), eating disorder symptomatology, and psychiatric distress. Diagnoses were established using the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE). Participants completed the EDE-Questionnaire, the Brief Symptom Inventory, and were measured and weighed.

Results

Adjusting for significant group differences in BMI, the two eating disorder groups did not differ significantly on measures of weight and shape concern, restraint, psychiatric distress, and history of seeking treatment for an eating or weight problem.

Discussion

Given the importance of diagnostic status for access to treatment, further evaluation of the severity criterion specified for BED is needed. © 2000 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 27: 270–278, 2000.