The experience of 'feeling fat' in women with anorexia nervosa, dieting and non-dieting women: an exploratory study.
OBJECTIVE
To provide a preliminary, systematic exploration of some features associated with the experience of 'feeling fat'.


METHODS
Women with anorexia nervosa (N = 16), women who were dieting (N = 15) and non-dieting women (N = 17) took part in a semi-structured interview.


RESULTS
Feeling fat was common in all three groups of women. It was associated with distress, negative emotions, internal and external body sensations, images in a range of modalities, negative self beliefs and a first memory of feeling fat. Differences specifically characteristic of those with anorexia nervosa were identified, including feeling fatter, greater associated distress, more negative emotions, greater 'emotional' belief in cognitions, a richer experience, an earlier first memory, greater strength of negative self beliefs and a link to restricting behaviour. Some qualitative data are reported.


CONCLUSIONS
The experience of feeling fat can be 'unpacked' in a way that may be useful in cognitive therapy for those with anorexia nervosa.
Cooper
Myra J
MJ
Isis Education Centre, University of Oxford, UK. myra.cooper@hmc.ox.ac.uk
Deepak
Kavita
K
Grocutt
Elizabeth
E
Bailey
Emma
E
D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology*; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003071:Cognition; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012649:Self Concept; D012677:Sensation; D006113:United Kingdom