Hostname: page-component-89b8bd64d-72crv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2026-05-12T10:58:13.641Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Predictive significance of the overvaluation of shape/weight in obese patients with binge eating disorder: findings from a randomized controlled trial with 12-month follow-up

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 September 2012

C. M. Grilo*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
M. A. White
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
R. Gueorguieva
Affiliation:
Division of Biostatistics, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
G. T. Wilson
Affiliation:
Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, Rutgers – The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, USA
R. M. Masheb
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
*
*Address for correspondence: C. M. Grilo, Ph.D., Yale School of Medicine, 301 Cedar Street (2nd Floor), New Haven, CT 06519, USA. (Email: carlos.grilo@yale.edu)

Abstract

Background

Undue influence of body shape or weight on self-evaluation – referred to as overvaluation – is considered a core feature across eating disorders, but is not a diagnostic requirement for binge eating disorder (BED). This study examined the concurrent and predictive significance of overvaluation of shape/weight in obese patients with BED participating in a randomized clinical trial testing cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and behavioral weight loss (BWL).

Method

A total of 90 participants were randomly assigned to 6-month group treatments of CBT or BWL. Assessments were performed at baseline, throughout- and post-treatment, and at 6- and 12-month follow-ups after completing treatments with reliably administered semi-structured interviews and established measures.

Results

Participants categorized with overvaluation (n = 52, 58%) versus without overvaluation (n = 38, 42%) did not differ significantly in demographic features (age, gender and ethnicity), psychiatric co-morbidity, body mass index or binge eating frequency. The overvaluation group had significantly greater levels of eating disorder psychopathology and poorer psychological functioning (higher depression and lower self-esteem) than the non-overvaluation group. Overvaluation of shape/weight significantly predicted non-remission from binge eating and higher frequency of binge eating at the 12-month follow-up, even after adjusting for group differences in depression and self-esteem levels.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that overvaluation does not simply reflect concern commensurate with being obese or more frequent binge eating, but also is strongly associated with heightened eating-related psychopathology and psychological distress, and has negative prognostic significance for longer-term treatment outcomes. Overvaluation of shape/weight warrants consideration as a diagnostic specifier for BED as it provides important information about severity and treatment outcome.

Information

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable