WEIGHT-RELATED TEASING INCREASES EATING IN BINGE EATERS

Two experimental studies investigated the impact of weight-related teasing on mood and eating in binge and nonbinge eaters. In Study 1, all participants who read a vignette depicting weight-related teasing experienced increased negative affect, but only binge eaters proceeded to eat more following this mood change. Study 2 investigated the specificity of the weight content of the teasing by also examining the effect of competence-related teasing on mood and eating. Negative affect generally increased whether participants read the weight-related or the competence-related teasing vignette. However, binge eaters ate more only when exposed to the weight-related teasing vignette. The affect regulation model and escape theory are used to discuss the specificity of the effect of weight related teasing on binge eaters' eating behavior.