Emotional Eating, Nonpurge Binge Eating, and Self-Efficacy in Healthy Perimenopausal Women

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the relationships among nonpurge binge eating, emotional eating, and diet-related self-efficacy in perimenopausal women, a population at risk for weight gain. Design of Study: Descriptive correlational study. Method: Secondary analysis of baseline data for a weight gain prevention intervention, Mindful Restaurant Eating, with a sample of healthy perimenopausal women ( n = 43). Findings: Controlling for age and body mass index, the binge eating severity was associated with emotional eating (partial r = .71; p ≤ .01) and was negatively associated with diet-related self-efficacy (partial r = −.49; p ≤ .05). There was a significant difference ( p < .01) in emotional eating scores between women with moderate to high binge eating severity scores and those with low binge eating severity scores. Participants with higher binge eating severity also had less diet-related self-efficacy, especially with regard to resisting relapse and reducing calorie intake. Conclusions: Perhaps perceived loss of control, a central component to binge eating, negatively affects one’s ability to consistently attain dietary goals, thus affecting self-efficacy. Interventions increasing diet-related self-efficacy may prove useful in decreasing the amount of excess calories consumed because of emotional eating and/or binge eating behavior.