The mediating effect of eating self-efficacy on the relationship between emotional arousal and overeating in the treatment-seeking obese.

In this study, we tested the proposition that the emotion-based eating of obese individuals is mediated by the effects of emotional arousal tendencies on brittle dieting self-restraint. Our indices of emotion-aroused eating, overeating, and brittle restraint were derived from a set of measures administered to 632 female and 254 male participants in a residential weight control and lifestyle change program. Mediation analyses indicated that (a) the relationship between positive emotion and overeating was entirely mediated by restraint tendencies and (b) the relationship between negative emotion eating and overeating was only partially mediated by brittle restraint. These findings held for both males and females. The results are discussed in relation to the viability of the psychosomatic hypothesis for understanding the relationship between emotions and overeating.

The gender specificity of emotional, situational, and behavioral indicators of binge eating in a diet-seeking obese population.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the unique gender correlates of binge eating severity in a diet-seeking population. METHOD: This sample consisted of 288 self-admitted patients enrolled in a residential weight loss program between 1996 and 1997. Subjects were administered several questionnaires including (a) the Binge Eating Scale, (b) the Beck Depression Inventory, (c) the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, (d) 5-point scales of eating related foci, and (e) 7-point scales of subject confidence in controlling their eating under various circumstances. Data were analyzed in terms of stepwise regression analyses. RESULTS: Regression results revealed that while men and women share some common predictors of binge eating severity, there are also some gender-specific correlates. Men in our sample were prone to binge eat because of negative emotions (i.e., depression and anger), while binge eating severity for women in our sample was most strongly related to diet failure and tests of moderate eating. DISCUSSION: The strength of the distinctive gender-specific regressions for binge eating severity suggests that the problems of binging in obese males and females are derivatives of differential sex role expectations. This interpretation and clinical implications are the focus of the discussion.

The comorbidity of depression and eating dysregulation processes in a diet-seeking obese population: a matter of gender specificity.

OBJECTIVE: To explore gender differences in depression vulnerability among an obese, treatment-seeking population and to discern those components of eating-related phenomena that discriminate the depression-comorbid obese from their noncomorbid counterparts. METHOD: This sample consisted of 1,184 self-admitted patients enrolled in a residential weight loss program between 1990 and 1995. Subjects were administered several questionnaires including (a) the Beck Depression Inventory, (b) 5-point scales of eating-related foci, and (c) 7-point scales of subject's confidence in their eating control under various circumstances. Data were analyzed via analyses of variance (ANOVAs) and stepwise regression. RESULTS: Greater depression was accompanied by more disruptive, dysregulatory eating tendencies, and stronger inclination to engage in affectively and socially disrupted eating. Regression results revealed gender-specific predictors of comorbid depression. For obese females, negative-emotion disrupted eating and binge-purge behaviors were prominent predictors of depression. For males, eating induced by experiences of social or physical inadequacy and fasting relating to eating behaviors were the depression-relevant variables. DISCUSSION: These results are discussed in terms of their theoretical implications for gender-mediated models of obesity-depression comorbidity, and in terms of their clinical significance.