Negative affect prior to and following overeating‐only, loss of control eating‐only, and binge eating episodes in obese adults. Issue 6 (23rd March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Berg, Kelly C.; Crosby, Ross D.; Cao, Li; Crow, Scott J.; Engel, Scott G.; Wonderlich, Stephen A.; Peterson, Carol B.
• Is Part Of: International journal of eating disorders. Volume 48:Issue 6(2015:Sep.)
• Page Start: 641
• Page End: 653
• Publication Date: 2015-03-23
• Subjects: Appetite disorders -- Periodicals; Ingestion disorders -- Periodicals; Eating disorders -- Periodicals; 616.8526
• DOI: 10.1002/eat.22401
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0276-3478

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>ABSTRACT</title> <sec id="eat22401-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>The objective was to examine the trajectory of five types of negative affect (global negative affect, fear, guilt, hostility, sadness) prior to and following three types of eating episodes (overeating in the absence of loss of control [OE‐only], loss of control eating in the absence of overeating [LOC‐only], and binge eating) among obese adults using ecological momentary assessment (EMA).</p> </sec> <sec id="eat22401-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Method</title> <p>Fifty obese adults (84% female) completed a two‐week EMA protocol during which they were asked to record all eating episodes and rate each episode on continua of overeating and loss of control. Momentary measures of global negative affect, fear, guilt, hostility, and sadness were assessed using an abbreviated version of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). Trajectories for each of the five types of negative affect were modeled prior to and following episodes of OE‐only, LOC‐only, and binge eating.</p> </sec> <sec id="eat22401-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Consistent with previous findings, global negative affect and Guilt increased prior to and decreased following binge eating episodes (all <italic>p</italic>s < .05). Guilt also decreased following OE‐only episodes (<italic>p</italic> < .05).</p> </sec> <sec id="eat22401-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Discussion</title> <p>These results are consistent with the affect regulation model of binge eating and suggest that binge eating may function to regulate global negative affect, and more specifically, guilt among obese adults. These data suggest that the relationship between negative affect and binge eating may not be unique to individuals with clinical eating disorders and indicate that targeting negative affect may be an effective strategy for the treatment of binge eating in the context of obesity. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc (Int J Eat Disord 2015; 48:641–653)</p> </sec> </abstract>