Premium
The experience of ‘feeling fat’ in women with anorexia nervosa, dieting and non‐dieting women: an exploratory study
Author(s) -
Cooper Myra J.,
Deepak Kavita,
Grocutt Elizabeth,
Bailey Emma
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
european eating disorders review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.511
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1099-0968
pISSN - 1072-4133
DOI - 10.1002/erv.785
Subject(s) - dieting , feeling , anorexia nervosa , psychology , distress , eating disorders , clinical psychology , cognition , developmental psychology , psychotherapist , psychiatry , obesity , medicine , social psychology , weight loss , endocrinology
Objective To provide a preliminary, systematic exploration of some features associated with the experience of ‘feeling fat’. Method Women with anorexia nervosa ( N = 16), women who were dieting ( N = 15) and non‐dieting women ( N = 17) took part in a semi‐structured interview. Results Feeling fat was common in all three groups of women. It was associated with distress, negative emotions, internal and external body sensations, images in a range of modalities, negative self beliefs and a first memory of feeling fat. Differences specifically characteristic of those with anorexia nervosa were identified, including feeling fatter, greater associated distress, more negative emotions, greater ‘emotional’ belief in cognitions, a richer experience, an earlier first memory, greater strength of negative self beliefs and a link to restricting behaviour. Some qualitative data are reported. Conclusions The experience of feeling fat can be ‘unpacked’ in a way that may be useful in cognitive therapy for those with anorexia nervosa. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.