Weight and shape overconcern and emotional eating in binge eating disorder

Objective This study investigated two issues: the level of weight and shape concerns, and the self‐reported tendency to eat in response to negative emotions among obese individuals with binge eating disorder (BED), eating disorder not otherwise specified (EDNOS), and no eating disorder (CONTROL). Method: On the basis of demographic and diagnostic surveys, 156 participants in a weight loss program were categorized on two dimensions, eating disorder category and weight (BED vs. EDNOS vs. CONTROL/low vs. high body mass index), yielding a 2 × 3 experimental design. Results: Individuals with BED reported a greater tendency to eat in response to negative mood states than CONTROL subjects and low weight EDNOS subjects, but not high weight EDNOS subjects. Weight did not influence self‐reported weight and shape concerns. Individuals with BED expressed greater concern for weight and shape than non‐eating disordered CONTROLs. Discussion: The findings suggest that overconcern with weight and shape be further investigated as a diagnostic feature of BED and that emotional eating is associated with BED but not obesity per se. © 1996 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.