OBJECTIVES. This study examines whether childhood sexual abuse is a
significant risk factor for the development of bulimic behavior in
women. METHODS. Interviews were conducted among a representative
national sample of 1099 US women regarding their sexual experiences
during childhood as well as their lifetime prevalence of bulimic
behavior. Logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds
ratios to measure the contribution of childhood sexual abuse to the
odds of several measures of bulimic behavior in the population,
controlling for the respondent's age, ethnic group, and parents'
educational level. Attributable risk analyses were conducted to
estimate how much risk for bulimic behavior was due to childhood
sexual abuse. RESULTS. Victims of childhood sexual abuse were
significantly more likely to display bulimic behavior, and a
substantial fraction of cases of bulimic behavior could be attributed
to such abuse. CONCLUSIONS. Childhood sexual abuse is a risk factor
for bulimic behavior. Between one sixth and one third of the cases of
significant bulimic disturbance could be attributed to childhood
sexual abuse.