title: Facets of impulsivity interactively predict body fat and binge eating in young women.
abstract: Impulsivity has been positively linked to overeating and obesity, but findings are inconsistent. Studies using the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS) show that measures of overeating appear to be most consistently associated with scores on the subscale attentional impulsivity in both non-clinical and clinical samples. Additionally, individuals with binge-eating behaviors may have elevated scores on the subscale motor impulsivity. In the current study, young women (N = 133) completed the short form of the BIS (BIS-15), the Eating Disorder Examination - Questionnaire, and height, weight and body composition were measured. Regression analyses showed that attentional and motor impulsivity positively predicted binge eating and general eating pathology, while non-planning impulsivity negatively predicted these variables. Moreover, attentional and motor impulsivity interactively predicted percent body fat, and the number of subjective and objective binge episodes. Results show that only specific aspects of trait impulsivity (attentional and motor impulsivity) are positively associated with body mass and binge eating. Non-planning impulsivity appears to be unrelated or even inversely related to those variables, at least in female students. Elevated levels of attentional impulsivity in conjunction with high motor impulsivity may be a risk factor for overweight and clinically relevant binge eating.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Department of Psychology I, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany; Hospital for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, LWL University Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Hamm, Germany. Electronic address: adrian.meule@rub.de.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meule
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Department of Psychology I, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Platte
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D056912:Binge-Eating Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D001823:Body Composition; D001835:Body Weight; D002032:Bulimia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006963:Hyperphagia / Q000523:psychology; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Barratt Impulsiveness Scale; Binge eating; Body composition; Body mass index; Impulsivity; Overeating