Prevalence of binge-eating and bulimia among adolescent women in Japan.

This study examined by questionnaire the prevalence of binge-eating and bulimia among 220 women at a school of nursing and 236 women at a junior college, all from 18 to 21 years old, in two different areas of Japan. Binge-eating more than once a week was found in 14 (6.5%) of the nursing school students and 21 (9.1%) of the college women. Self-induced vomiting and use of purgatives were found in 19 (8.7%) and 12 (5.5%) of the nursing school students, and 19 (8.1%) and 9 (3.8%) of the college women, respectively. The difference between these two groups was not significant. The prevalence of binge-eating more than once a week, together with self-induced vomiting or purgative use, was 3.6% in the nursing school students, 2.1% in the college women, and 2.9% in the total sample. These women appeared to meet both DSM-III criteria for bulimia and Russell's criteria for bulimia nervosa.