Controlling Your Weight Versus Controlling Your Lifestyle: How Beliefs about Weight Control Affect Risk for Disordered Eating, 10534_2006_9060_Fig3_HTML.gif Dissatisfaction and Self-esteem

Cognitive Therapy and Research volume 31, pages853–869(2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective

This study investigates the importance of weight control beliefs in increasing or decreasing one’s risk for disordered eating. Beliefs underlying weight control (“weight can and should be controlled”) and non-dieting (“strive for a healthy lifestyle and accept one’s natural weight”) approaches were measured and their relationship to disordered eating, body dissatisfaction and self-esteem examined.

Method

In study 1, a new Weight Control Beliefs Questionnaire was evaluated and the relation to disordered eating, body dissatisfaction and self-esteem was investigated in a non-clinical sample of 138 women. In study 2, the questionnaire’s ability to distinguish eating disordered (n = 37) from non-eating disordered (n = 37) individuals was evaluated.

Results and discussion

A belief that one should control one’s weight (BCWeight) was significantly related to disturbed eating, body dissatisfaction and poor self-esteem, whereas a belief that one should control one’s lifestyle and accept the resulting weight (BCLifestyle) showed a strong protective relationship. The questionnaire successfully discriminated eating disordered from non-eating disordered individuals. It is suggested that treatment approaches for both eating disorders and obesity should be evaluated for their impact on these beliefs.

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Author information

Affiliations

  1. Eating Disorders Program, Community Psychiatry, Fontbonne Bldg, St. Joseph’s Healthcare, 50 Charlton Ave. E., Hamilton, ON, Canada, L8N 4A6

    Michele Laliberte

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

    Michele Laliberte & Randi McCabe

  3. Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada

    Mandi Newton

  4. Anxiety Treatment and Research Centre, St. Joseph’s Healthcare, Hamilton, ON, Canada

    Randi McCabe

  5. Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Jennifer S. Mills

Authors
  1. Michele Laliberte
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  2. Mandi Newton
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  3. Randi McCabe
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  4. Jennifer S. Mills
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michele Laliberte.

Appendix I Weight control beliefs questionnaire

Appendix I Weight control beliefs questionnaire

INSTRUCTIONS
Please read each statement and decide how well each statement describes your beliefs
    If the statement is NOT TRUE of your beliefs, circle NT
    If the statement is SLIGHTLY TRUE of your beliefs, circle ST
    If the statement is MODERATELY TRUE of your beliefs, circle MT
    If the statement is VERY TRUE of your beliefs, circle VT
Be sure to answer every statement.
1. I believe I should control my weight...................................................... NT ST MT VT
2. I try to live a healthy lifestyle and let my weight go to what is natural for me............................................................................................. NT ST MT VT
3. I focus on healthy living rather than on controlling my weight..................... NT ST MT VT
4. If I work at it, I should be able to keep my weight where I want it............... NT ST MT VT
5. I try to accept the weight that is natural for me and focus on living a healthy lifestyle.............................................................................. NT ST MT VT
6. If I stick to the right exercise and eating plan, I should be able to achieve the weight and shape I want............................................................... NT ST MT VT
7. If I am living a healthy lifestyle, my body is likely at the weight I am meant to be............................................................................................. NT ST MT VT
8. It is important to me that I accept the weight that comes with living a healthy lifestyle.............................................................................. NT ST MT VT
9. The main thing that determines my weight is what I myself do.................. NT ST MT VT
10. If I am careful, I can control my weight................................................ NT ST MT VT
11. I’d rather live healthily and accept that we all come in different shapes and sizes............................................................................................. NT ST MT VT
12. If my weight is more than I want it to be, then I am at fault........................ NT ST MT VT
13. Whether I gain, lose or maintain my weight is within my control............... NT ST MT VT
14. I am comfortable letting my weight fluctuate naturally.............................. NT ST MT VT
15. I focus on healthy eating rather than trying to control my weight............... NT ST MT VT
16. If I want to be a certain weight, I can make it happen.............................. NT ST MT VT
17. I focus on healthy exercise rather than trying to control my weight............ NT ST MT VT
  1. Note
  2. BCWeight scale (Belief in Controlling Weight): Items 1, 4, 6, 9, 10, 12, 13, 16
  3. BCLifestyle scale (Belief in Controlling Lifestyle): Items 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 11, 14, 15, 17
  4. Scoring: NT = 1, ST = 2, MT = 3, VT = 4; sum items for each scale

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Laliberte, M., Newton, M., McCabe, R. et al. Controlling Your Weight Versus Controlling Your Lifestyle: How Beliefs about Weight Control Affect Risk for Disordered Eating, 10534_2006_9060_Fig3_HTML.gif Dissatisfaction and Self-esteem. Cogn Ther Res 31, 853–869 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-006-9104-z

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Keywords

  • Weight control
  • Obesity
  • Disordered eating
  • Eating disorders