Body-esteem and teasing in female binge-eaters: developing a negative body image

The aims of the present study were to analyze the current and past Body Image (BI) in women with disordered eating, and to explore the relationships between different BI dimensions and the drive for thinness by controlling the influence of depression. Patients with objective binge-eating episodes (N= 25), restrictive patients (N= 10), obese patients (N= 11) and women from the community (N= 32) filled out BI measures (ASI, PARTS and BES) and the drive for thinness (EDI-2) and depression (BSI) scales. All of the clinical groups showed greater body dissatisfaction; but the binge-eating group scored the highest on depression and drive for thinness. Regarding the teasing history, after controlling for depression, differences were only maintained with regard to teasing about weight and shape, with the obese patients and binge-eating groups reporting more teasing. The presence of binge-eating was associated with greater weight concerns, and more teasing and negative events related to BI.