Attachment anxiety is associated with a fear of becoming fat, which is mediated by binge eating

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. Discussion These findings contribute to a more refined understanding of binge eating which may create pathways for professionals to develop targeted interventions.