Previous research has shown significant correlations between the Binge Eating Scale (BES) and the Cognitive Factors Scale (CFS) using obese subjects who were not selected based on criteria for eating disorders. To determine if similar relationships between binging severity and cognitive factors would hold for subjects who did meet the criteria for bulimia, anorexia, or both, and to determine if the BES would discriminate between those who report binging and those who do not, 48 female subjects were interviewed and given a battery of psychological tests including the BES and CFS. Analysis of results showed that anorexic subjects scored significantly lower on the BES than bulimics or bulimic/anorexic subjects. Significant correlations were found between binge eating and cognitions of personal dieting standards and dieting self-efficacy. Subjects' greater tendency to binge was related to more stringent standards and to a lower sense of personal efficacy in sticking to a diet. The findings add to the concurrent validity of the BES since subjects who had high rates of binging as part of the criteria for their diagnosis (bulimia and bulimia/anorexia) scored higher than anorexics, who binge to a lesser degree, and therefore do not have binging as part of their diagnostic criteria. (JAC)