The nature of body image disturbance in patients with binge eating disorder.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the distinction between body dissatisfaction and self-evaluation unduly influenced by body shape and weight, and their longitudinal relationships to depressive symptomatology and self-esteem in patients with binge eating disorder (BED).


METHODS
Ninety-seven patients with BED completed measures tapping these constructs at baseline and again 4 weeks later.


RESULTS
Change in body dissatisfaction was significantly correlated with both change in depressive symptomatology and change in self-esteem over time, whereas change in self-evaluation was significantly correlated only with change in self-esteem. In addition, change in shape concern, but not change in weight concern, was significantly correlated with change in self-esteem only.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that self-evaluation unduly influenced by body shape is a more useful indicator for BED than body dissatisfaction or self-evaluation unduly influenced by weight.
Masheb
Robin M
RM
Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, PO Box 208098, New Haven, CT 06520-8098, USA. robin.masheb@yale.edu
Grilo
Carlos M
CM
D000328:Adult; D001828:Body Image; D001835:Body Weight; D002032:Bulimia / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D012649:Self Concept