Validity of the Eating Attitudes Test and the Eating Disorders Inventory in Bulimia Nervosa

Criterion and concurrent validity of the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT) and the Eating Disorders Inventory (EDI) were assessed in 82 women with bulimia nervosa. Both tests demonstrated criterion validity by discriminating bulimia nervosa subjects from normal subjects. However, only weak support was found for the concurrent validity within bulimia subjects. Generally there was little association between the EAT or the EDI and behavioral measures, including vomiting frequency, duration of disorder, eating during test meals, thoughts while eating, and body-size distortion. Self-report questionnaires in conjunction with direct behavioral-measures of eating and vomiting would provide the most complete assessment for bulimia nervosa.