title: Attachment anxiety is associated with a fear of becoming fat, which is mediated by binge eating.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous work demonstrated that individuals with higher levels of attachment anxiety are prone to increased binge eating (Alexander & Siegel, 2013). Given that our society rejects obese individuals and individuals with higher levels of attachment anxiety tend to be highly sensitive to rejection (Downey & Feldman, 1996), it follows that those with increased attachment anxiety may be especially fearful of becoming fat.
  
  
  METHODS
  Undergraduate psychology students (n= 148) completed surveys measuring attachment, binge eating, and fear of becoming fat.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The data demonstrate that attachment anxiety is positively associated with a fear of becoming fat (β= .30,p< .001) and binge eating mediates this relationship. In other words, binge eating underlies the fear of becoming fat.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings contribute to a more refined understanding of binge eating which may create pathways for professionals to develop targeted interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, College of Mount St. Vincent , Bronx , NY , United States.
authors.forename: Katherine E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Alexander
keywords: Attachment anxiety; Attachment theory; Binge eating; Eating behavior; Fear of becoming fat