One body, two faces: How double standards influence body evaluation in women with binge‐eating disorder compared to mentally healthy women with higher weight and average weight

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveResearch has found evidence that women with anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) apply different standards for themselves than for others when evaluating bodies, an aspect of a disturbed body image. This study investigates whether women with binge‐eating disorder (BED) likewise show self‐deprecating double standards (DS).MethodsWomen with BED (n = 40), women with higher weight (n = 40) and women with average weight (n = 40) viewed a presentation of different builds, including their individual ideal body, which were presented once with participants' own and once with an unknown woman's face. After each presentation, participants rated their emotional response regarding arousal and valence, and evaluated the body's attractiveness, body fat and muscle mass. DS were defined as the difference in ratings of the same body with one's own and the unknown face.ResultsWomen with BED showed a higher degree of negative emotions in response to a thin and a high‐weight build, rated lower levels of body attractiveness for an athletic build, and displayed more arousal for almost all builds presented with their own compared to with another face. While women with BED showed a higher burden on measures of eating pathology and body image than the other groups, DS were not more pronounced in women with BED.DiscussionThe findings contradict DS as a characteristic feature of BED, but underline “normative” DS for higher‐weight/high‐weight builds, reflecting weight stigmatization. Psychoeducation on these DS might complement cognitive‐behavioral therapy in BED in order to reduce negative emotions.Public significanceA bias in body evaluation has been proven in women with anorexia and BN, but no research has examined this in women with BED. This study provides evidence of DS in body evaluation in women with BED, compares the extent of DS between women with BED, higher weight, and average weight, and investigates individual body ideals in women with BED and higher weight.