Examining trait‐like factors as predictors of state‐level responses to food intake in women with bulimia nervosa, purging disorder, and controls

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveTheories suggest that elevated negative affect and weight/shape concerns explain both who is affected by bulimic symptoms as well as when bulimic symptoms occur, suggesting that individual differences predict within‐subject differences. However, few studies have tested this theoretical premise.MethodIn the present study, participants (N = 119) diagnosed with bulimia nervosa (N = 57), purging disorder (N = 31), and non‐eating disorder controls (N = 31) completed measures of negative affect and weight/shape concerns and later made momentary affect and weight/shape concerns ratings before and after an ad lib meal.ResultsState negative affect and weight/shape concerns increased post‐meal. No moderating effect of trait negative affect was observed for state affect. In contrast, between‐subject differences in weight/shape concerns moderated within‐subject increases in state weight/shape concerns. Diagnostic group did not account for this effect.DiscussionFindings point to viable treatment targets for disordered eating. Targeting elevated weight/shape concerns early in interventions could facilitate reductions in purging after food intake for bulimia nervosa and purging disorder.Public SignificanceIn the present study, individual differences in weight/shape concerns at baseline predicted greater increases in state weight/shape concerns following eating. These effects were maintained when considering possible differences related to presence and type of eating disorder. Results suggest that targeting weight/shape concerns earlier in treatment may be important for reducing maladaptive responses to eating across eating disorders.