Influences of gender, amount of food, and speed of eating on external raters' perceptions of binge eating.
Traditional methods for examining binge-eating (e.g. food diaries, laboratory binges), primarily employing clinical samples, have a number of limitations. This paper details three studies utilizing a new methodology to examine perceptions of binge eating: standard videotapes of male and female models consuming doughnuts. College students (n = 459) viewed one of nine videotapes and were asked if the eating behavior of the model was a binge or not. Variables manipulated include gender of the model, number of doughnuts, rate of eating and social (vs. solitary) eating. The number of doughnuts eaten by a female model was sufficient for female subjects to label it as a binge. In order for a male to have binged, females responded to the amount; males required both speed and amount. Results are discussed in terms of their relevance for understanding perception of binge eating in normal and clinical populations.
LaPorte
D J
DJ
Department of Psychology, Indiana University of Pennsylvania 15705-1068, USA.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015930:Diet Records; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012938:Social Perception; D013997:Time Factors; D014743:Videotape Recording