Table 1.
Overview of the current diagnostic criteria, definitions, and prevalence rates for AN, BN, BED, and Obesity
| Anorexia Nervosa | Bulimia Nervosa | Binge Eating Disorder | Obesity |
|---|---|---|---|
| A. Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for age and height (e.g., weight loss leading to maintenance of body weight less than 85% of that expected; or failure to make expected weight gain during period of growth, leading to body weight less than 85% of that expected). |
A. Recurrent episodes of binge eating, characterized by: 1. Eating, in a discrete period of time (e.g., within 2-hours), an amount of food that is definitely larger than most people would eat during a similar period of time or circumstances 2. A sense of lack of control over eating during the episode (e.g., a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating) |
A. Recurrent episodes of binge eating, characterized by: 1. Eating, in a discrete period of time (e.g., within 2-hours), an amount of food that is definitely larger than most people would eat during a similar period of time or circumstances 2. A sense of lack of control over eating during the episode (e.g., a feeling that one cannot stop eating or control what or how much one is eating) |
Overweight: 85th to < 95th BMI1 Percentile Obesity: ≥ 95th BMI Percentile |
| B. Intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though underweight. |
B. Recurrent inappropriate compensatory behavior, such as self- induced vomiting; misuse of laxatives, diuretics, enemas, or other medications; fasting; or excessive exercise. |
B. Binge eating episodes are associated with 3 (or more) of the following: 1. Eating much more rapidly than usual 2. Eating until uncomfortably full 3. Eating large amounts of food when not feeling physically hungry 4. Eating alone because of being embarrassed by how much one is eating 5. Feeling disgusted with oneself, depressed, or very guilty after overeating |
|
| C. Disturbance in the way one’s body weight or shape is experienced, undue influence of body weight or shape on self- evaluation, or denial of the seriousness of current low body weight. |
C. The binge eating and inappropriate compensatory behaviors both occur, on average, ≥2 times a week for 3 months.2 |
C. Marked distress regarding binge eating is present. |
|
| D. In postmenarcheal females, amenorrhea (absence of ≥3 consecutive menstrual cycles).3 |
D. Self-evaluation is unduly influenced by body shape and weight. |
D. The binge eating occurs, on average, ≥2 days a week for 6 months.4 |
|
| E. The disturbance does not occur exclusively during episodes of AN. |
E. The binge eating is not associated with the regular use of inappropriate compensatory behaviors and does not occur exclusively during episodes of AN or BN. |
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| Prevalence Estimates: 0.3 – 3.7% | Prevalence Estimates: 1.0 – 4.2% | Prevalence Estimates: 0.7 – 3.0% | Prevalence Estimates: Obesity: 16.3% Overweight & Obesity: 31.9% |
1
Body Mass Index (BMI) = weight (kilograms)/height (meters2); BMI percentile = age- and sex-specific curves.
2
Reduction of this criterion to one time per week for 3 months has been proposed for DSM-V.
3
Removal of this criterion has been proposed for DSM-V.
4
Reduction of this criterion to one time per week for 3 months has been proposed for DSM-V.