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Relationships between nonappearance self-discrepancy, weight discrepancy, and binge eating disorder symptoms

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Abstract

Purpose

Self-discrepancy (i.e., perceived differences between one’s actual self and personal standards) has been associated with binge eating disorder (BED) symptoms. However, little is known about how weight discrepancy (i.e., the difference between one’s actual and ideal weights) interacts with or is distinguished from nonappearance self-discrepancy (discrepancy unrelated to weight or shape) in predicting BED severity. The current study examined how these two forms of discrepancy independently and interactively relate to BED and associated symptoms to elucidate how facets of self-discrepancy may operate to precipitate and maintain BED.

Methods

Adults with BED (N = 111) completed questionnaires and interviews prior to treatment that assessed self-discrepancy (computerized selves) and weight discrepancy (assessed during the Eating Disorder Examination [EDE]) as predictors of global eating disorder (ED) symptomatology (EDE Global score), depression (Beck Depression Inventory), anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), self-esteem (Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale), and ED-related impairment (Clinical Impairment Assessment).

Results

Multivariate regression models indicated nonappearance self-discrepancy and weight discrepancy were not significantly related to the severity of global ED symptoms, but both independently predicted impairment (ps < 0.05). Nonappearance self-discrepancy, but not weight discrepancy, was also associated with higher depression (p = 0.001), anxiety (p < 0.001), and lower self-esteem (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

These findings suggest distinct associations of weight discrepancy and nonappearance self-discrepancy with ED and related symptoms, as well as each of these constructs’ relevance to everyday functioning in BED. The results also highlight potential avenues for future research to examine mechanistic pathways by which self-discrepancy influences BED severity.

Level of evidence

V, descriptive cross-sectional study.

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Data availability

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Funding

This research was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (C.B.P., Grant Number R34MH099040-01A1; S.A.W., Grant Number R34MH098995).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology Department, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Elin Lantz Lesser

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Kathryn E. Smith

  3. Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA

    Timothy J. Strauman

  4. Center for Bio-Behavioral Research, Sanford Research, Fargo, ND, USA

    Ross D. Crosby, Scott G. Engel & Stephen A. Wonderlich

  5. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Fargo, ND, USA

    Ross D. Crosby, Scott G. Engel & Stephen A. Wonderlich

  6. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Scott J. Crow & Carol B. Peterson

  7. The Emily Program, Saint Paul, MN, USA

    Scott J. Crow & Carol B. Peterson

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  1. Elin Lantz Lesser
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  2. Kathryn E. Smith
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  3. Timothy J. Strauman
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  4. Ross D. Crosby
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  8. Stephen A. Wonderlich
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Correspondence to Elin Lantz Lesser.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval for this study was obtained from the University of Minnesota (IRB Study R34 MH099040) and Sanford Research (IRB Study 03-13-123).

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Lantz Lesser, E., Smith, K.E., Strauman, T.J. et al. Relationships between nonappearance self-discrepancy, weight discrepancy, and binge eating disorder symptoms. Eat Weight Disord 26, 1571–1580 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-020-00975-8

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