Binge eating severity, self-concept, dieting self-efficacy and social support during treatment of binge eating disorder

Int J Eat Disord. 1999 Nov;26(3):295-300. doi: 10.1002/(sici)1098-108x(199911)26:3<295::aid-eat7>3.0.co;2-7.

Abstract

Objective: In treatment of binge eating, measures of self-concept, eating self-efficacy, and social support were examined at 0, 6, and 18 months to determine if improvements in these variables were associated with reductions in binge eating severity.

Method: Obese adult females (N = 125) were treated for 6 months, with 12 months of maintenance meetings. The Binge Eating Scale (BES), Tennessee Self-Concept Scale (TSC), Dieter's Inventory of Eating Temptations (DIET), and a social support measure (SocSup) were used.

Results: Over the first 6 months, improvements in BES were associated with improvements in the TSC and DIET. Over 18 months, improvements in BES were associated with improvements in the TSC, DIET, and SocSup.

Discussion: Therapy for binge eating should result in improvement in self-concept and eating self-efficacy, as well as reductions in binge eating. This study showed that self-concept and eating self-efficacy were associated with improvement in binge eating severity. The association with social support did not appear until long-term follow-up. Improvement in self-concept and eating self-efficacy may be processes leading to clinical improvement in this eating disorder, or they may result from changes in binge eating.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Body Mass Index
  • Feeding Behavior / psychology*
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / diet therapy*
  • Feeding and Eating Disorders / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Random Allocation
  • Recurrence
  • Self Concept*
  • Self Efficacy*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Social Support*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires