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Real-time predictors of body dissatisfaction in females with binge eating: an ecological momentary assessment study

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Abstract

Purpose

Body dissatisfaction (BD) is supported as a maintenance factor for eating disorders (EDs) characterized by binge eating (BE). Although it is traditionally conceptualized as a trait construct, ecological momentary assessment (EMA) studies have shown that it fluctuates within-day and that momentary elevations in BD prospectively predict near-time ED behaviors. However, less is known about the contextual factors that precipitate these fluctuations in BD.

Methods

The current study thus sought to examine whether certain internal (i.e., negative affect, shape/weight-related cognitions) and environmental (i.e., attending social events, being exposed to thin-ideal media, spending time on social media) factors prospectively predict momentary elevations in BD in females with BE. Participants (n = 25) completed an EMA protocol over 14 days.

Results

Data on BD and internal and environmental factors were analyzed using generalized estimating equations. Results showed that (1) greater than one’s usual negative affect and shape/weight-related cognitions, and (2) spending time on social media prospectively predicted momentary elevations in BD. Interestingly, attending social events prospectively predicted momentary reductions in BD.

Conclusion

These findings may have important implications for conceptualizing and managing BD to prevent ED behaviors.

Level of evidence

Level II, controlled trial without randomization.

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Data availability

Data will be available upon request.

Code availability

Software application or custom code will be available upon request.

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Funding

PS received funding for this study from the WELL Center Exceptional Research Award.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Weight, Eating, and Lifestyle Sciences (WELL Center), Drexel University, Stratton Hall, 3141 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Paakhi Srivastava, Christina R. Felonis, Olivia M. Clancy, Olivia B. Wons, Sophie R. Abber & Adrienne S. Juarascio

  2. Department of Psychology, Drexel University, Stratton Hall, 3141 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Christina R. Felonis, Olivia M. Clancy, Olivia B. Wons, Sophie R. Abber & Adrienne S. Juarascio

Authors
  1. Paakhi Srivastava
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  2. Christina R. Felonis
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  3. Olivia M. Clancy
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  4. Olivia B. Wons
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  5. Sophie R. Abber
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  6. Adrienne S. Juarascio
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Contributions

PS was responsible for conceptualizing the present study, conducted data analysis and reviewed manuscript, CF and OW assisted in manuscript preparation, SA conducted review of literature, OC assisted in manuscript revision, and AJ reviewed the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Paakhi Srivastava.

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Conflict of interest

Authors declare no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the Drexel Institutional Review Board and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Informed consent to publish the data collected from the study was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Srivastava, P., Felonis, C.R., Clancy, O.M. et al. Real-time predictors of body dissatisfaction in females with binge eating: an ecological momentary assessment study. Eat Weight Disord 27, 1547–1553 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-021-01296-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-021-01296-0

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