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A prospective study on the link between weight‐related self‐stigma and binge eating: Role of food addiction and psychological distress
Author(s) -
Ahorsu Daniel K.,
Lin ChungYing,
Imani Vida,
Griffiths Mark D.,
Su JianAn,
Latner Janet D.,
Marshall Rachel D.,
Pakpour Amir H.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/eat.23219
Subject(s) - binge eating , psychology , weight stigma , binge eating disorder , clinical psychology , distress , body mass index , association (psychology) , eating disorders , psychiatry , overweight , medicine , bulimia nervosa , psychotherapist , pathology
Objectives This prospective study investigated the link between weight‐related self‐stigma and binge eating by (a) examining the temporal association between weight‐related self‐stigma and binge eating; (b) investigating the mediating role of food addiction in the association between weight‐related self‐stigma and binge eating; and (c) examining the mediating role of psychological distress in the association between weight‐related self‐stigma and binge eating. Method Participants comprised 1,497 adolescents (mean = 15.1 years; SD = 6.0). Body mass index and weight bias were assessed at baseline; psychological distress (i.e., depression, anxiety, and stress) assessed and food addiction at 3 months; and binge eating at 6 months. The mediation model was analyzed using Model 4 in the PROCESS macro for SPSS with 10,000 bootstrapping resamples. Results There was no significant direct association between weight‐related self‐stigma and binge eating. However, food addiction and psychological distress significantly mediated the association between weight‐related self‐stigma and binge eating. Discussion These findings highlight the indirect association between weight‐related self‐stigma and binge eating via food addiction and psychological distress. Consequently, intervention programs targeting food addiction and psychological distress among adolescents may have significant positive effects on outcomes for weight‐related self‐stigma and binge eating. The findings will be beneficial to researchers and healthcare professionals working with adolescents during this critical developmental period.