Feeling fat in eating disorders: Testing the unique relationships between feeling fat and measures of disordered eating in anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa

Jake Linardon; Andrea Phillipou; David Castle; Richard Newton; Philippa Harrison; Leonardo L Cistullo; Scott Griffiths; Annemarie Hindle; Leah Brennan

doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2018.04.001

Feeling fat in eating disorders: Testing the unique relationships between feeling fat and measures of disordered eating in anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa

Body Image. 2018 Jun:25:163-167. doi: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2018.04.001. Epub 2018 Apr 10.

Authors

Jake Linardon¹, Andrea Phillipou², David Castle³, Richard Newton⁴, Philippa Harrison⁵, Leonardo L Cistullo⁵, Scott Griffiths⁶, Annemarie Hindle⁷, Leah Brennan⁷

Affiliations

¹ School of Psychology, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia. Electronic address: Jake.linardon@deakin.edu.au.
² Centre for Mental Health, Swinburne University of Technology, Australia; Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Australia; Department of Psychiatry, St Vincent's Hospital, Australia; Department of Mental Health, The Austin Hospital, Australia.
³ Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Australia; Department of Psychiatry, St Vincent's Hospital, Australia.
⁴ Department of Mental Health, The Austin Hospital, Australia.
⁵ Department of Psychiatry, St Vincent's Hospital, Australia.
⁶ Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Australia.
⁷ School of Psychology, Australian Catholic University, 115 Victoria Parade/Locked Bag 4115, Melbourne, Victoria 3065, Australia.

PMID: 29653375
DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2018.04.001

Abstract

Although widely discussed in theories of eating disorders, the experience of "feeling fat" in this population has received little research attention. This study tested the unique relationships between feeling fat and measures of problematic eating behaviours and attitudes. Data were analysed from individuals with anorexia nervosa (AN; n = 123) and bulimia nervosa (BN; n = 51). Correlations revealed considerable unshared variance between feeling fat and shape and weight over-evaluation and depressive symptoms. Moreover, when over-evaluation and depressive symptoms were controlled, feeling fat predicted unique variance in restraint and eating concerns. Findings offer some support for the idea that feeling fat is a distinct and important component of body image concerns in eating disorders. Further research that develops a standardized measure of feeling fat is required. Further research that examines whether feeling fat is an important treatment mechanism is also needed.

Keywords: Anorexia nervosa; Body image; Bulimia nervosa; Eating disorder; Feeling fat.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Anorexia Nervosa / diagnosis
Anorexia Nervosa / psychology*
Body Image / psychology*
Bulimia Nervosa / diagnosis
Bulimia Nervosa / psychology*
Emotions*
Feeding Behavior / psychology
Female
Humans
Male
Young Adult