The prediction of binge eating over time.

The stability of dietary restraint and the interrelationships of dietary restraint, depression, and binge eating were assessed over time in a sample of college women (n = 97) unselected for bulimia. Subjects were initially assessed with measures of the three constructs and reassessed at a 5-week interval. It was found that dietary restraint was a stable characteristic in the sample of women. In addition, path analyses indicated that the severity of previous binge eating and the coexistence of high levels of depression and dietary restraint were significant predictors of binge eating over time. Binge eating, however, did not cause high levels of depression and dietary restraint. The results of this investigation were discussed in terms of their implications for the development of binge eating symptomatology.