Individual Difference Correlates and Measures of Predisposition to Obesity and to Anorexia

Abstract

A questionnaire of eating and related habits was developed and factor analyzed to yield verbal report measures of predisposition to obesity, binge eating, physical activity, and predisposition to anorexia. The latter was composed of three intercorrelated components: food phobia, inability to eat, and abhorrence of full stomach (vomiting). Predisposition to obesity correlated .42 with binge eating and –.55 with the ponderal index (a measure of the elongated-rounded quality of body shape). Predisposition to anorexia correlated .14 with predisposition to obesity, showing that those predisposed to anorexia had a weak tendency to perceive themselves as prone to gain weight. However, contrary to clinical observations, predisposition to anorexia did not correlate significantly with binge eating or with physical activity. Across the entire sample, binge eating correlated .15 with abhorrence of full stomach (vomiting) showing that the incidence of bulimia is very low. A three-dimensional temperament framework and its associated measures of trait pleasure-displeasure, arousability, and trait dominance-submissiveness was used to explore personality correlates of eating habits. Predisposition to obesity was associated with arousability, and secondarily, with submissiveness, indicating anxious or dependent temperament types to be prone to obesity. Both binge eaters and those predisposed to anorexia exhibited unpleasant, arousable, and submissive (i.e., anxious) temperament characteristics. Physical activity was associated with trait dominance and trait pleasure; that is, relaxed or exuberant temperament qualities. Compared with males, females were significantly more predisposed to obesity, binge eating, and anorexia.