Psychosocial variables associated with binge eating in obese males and females.
OBJECTIVE
This study tested a psychosocial model of binge eating symptoms in obese men and women. Predictor variables included depression, dietary restraint, self-esteem, weight cycling, history of teasing, body dissatisfaction, and neuroticism.


METHODS
Participants (N = 808) completed a packet of self-report questionnaires.


RESULTS
Weight cycling, teasing about weight and shape, body dissatisfaction, negative affect, and dietary restraint comprised the best fitting models (original and cross-validation) for binge eating in women and men. These variables explained 61-72% of the variance in symptoms of binge eating in the samples of men and 70% of the variance in the samples of women. Although the male and female models were mostly similar, notable differences between them were found.


CONCLUSIONS
The variables that comprise these etiological models should be considered in the development of prevention programs for obese binge eaters. Longitudinal studies, however, are needed to examine these etiological paths and to test for causal relationships.
Womble
L G
LG
Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA.
Williamson
D A
DA
Martin
C K
CK
Zucker
N L
NL
Thaw
J M
JM
Netemeyer
R
R
Lovejoy
J C
JC
Greenway
F L
FL
D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image; D002032:Bulimia / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D015430:Weight Gain; D015431:Weight Loss