Ashamed and Fused with Body Image and Eating: Binge Eating as an Avoidance Strategy

Abstract

Shame is a significant predictor of symptomatology severity of BED patients. Shame significantly impacts binge eating, even controlling for depressive symptoms. Shame significantly predicts body image-related cognitive fusion and eating concern. Body image-fusion and eating concern mediate the link between shame and binge eating. Binge eating may be seen as an avoidance strategy from negative self-evaluations.

The impact of early shame memories in Binge Eating Disorder: The mediator effect of current body image shame and cognitive fusion

“…More specifically, Duarte et al (2014), in a study conducted in a nonclinical sample of women from the general population, found that body shame had a significant effect on binge eating symptoms, above overall negative affectivity. Moreover, in a recent study conducted in a clinical sample of women with BED (Duarte et al, 2015a), the effect of shame on the severity of binge eating symptoms was found to be influenced by the extent to which these negative evaluations are associated with cognitive fusion with body image cognitions (Ferreira et al, 2015).…”

“…Theoretical suggestions (Gilbert, 2002;Goss and Gilbert, 2002) and recent studies indicate that shame feelings, especially those related to body image (Duarte et al, 2015c), play an important role in the prospective development of binge eating symptoms (Dakanalis et al, 2014(Dakanalis et al, , 2015a and in the persistence of binge eating symptoms in patients with BED (Dakanalis et al, 2015b;Duarte et al, 2015a;Jambekar et al, 2003). According to the biopsychosocial model of shame (Gilbert, 1998;Gilbert, 2002Gilbert, , 2003Gilbert, 2007), humans are innately motivated to stimulate positive feelings in others and create a positive image of themselves, to fit within the social group.…”

“…Specifically, body image cognitive fusion involves the tendency to become 3 fused with disturbing cognitions about one's body (Ferreira et al, 2015). Research suggest that it is this entangled relationship with shame-related evaluations and body image-related cognitions that may foster maladaptive attempts to avoid these internal events (e.g., through binge eating; Duarte et al, 2015a;Hayes et al, 1999;Luoma and Hayes, 2003).…”

Incorporating psychoeducation, mindfulness and self-compassion in a new programme for binge eating (BEfree): Exploring processes of change

“…Hayes et al, 2006). Indeed, psychological inflexibility has been associated with disordered eating (Masuda et al, 2010(Masuda et al, , 2011 and binge eating (Duarte et al, 2015b;Duarte, Pinto-Gouveia and Ferreira, 2014). Additionally, a growing body of research has stressed the pervasive impact of shame (Duarte et al, 2014(Duarte et al, , 2015b and self-criticism (Gilbert, 2002;Goss and Allan, 2009;Goss and Gilbert, 2002) on binge eating and eating psychopathology, which goes beyond the overall negative affect.…”

“…Indeed, psychological inflexibility has been associated with disordered eating (Masuda et al, 2010(Masuda et al, , 2011 and binge eating (Duarte et al, 2015b;Duarte, Pinto-Gouveia and Ferreira, 2014). Additionally, a growing body of research has stressed the pervasive impact of shame (Duarte et al, 2014(Duarte et al, , 2015b and self-criticism (Gilbert, 2002;Goss and Allan, 2009;Goss and Gilbert, 2002) on binge eating and eating psychopathology, which goes beyond the overall negative affect. Another characteristic that seems to be an important feature of binge eating conceptualization is the dysregulation of satiety and hunger awareness (Sysko et al, 2007) as well as the reactivity to food-related cues (Sobik et al, 2005).…”