P Jirik-Babb1, A Geliebter. 1. Department of Psychology, Iona College, New Rochelle, New York 10801, USA. pjirik-babb@iona.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study compared levels of depression, anxiety and self-esteem in binging and nonbinging obese, adult females in a hospital weight-loss program. METHOD: Participants (n=43; mean age=43.5 yrs) completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory (CSEI) upon entering the program (Week 0). A subgroup (n=15) completed the same inventories on Week 4 and Week 8. RESULTS: Binge eaters had significantly higher levels of depression (p<0.002) and lower levels of self-esteem (p<0.001) on Week 0. For the subgroup that remained in the program through Week 8, significantly higher depression levels (p<0.01) and anxiety levels (p<0.05) persisted for the binge eaters. DISCUSSION: Results indicate that obese binge eaters have more psychological distress than nonbingers, and that these differences tend to persist even during weight loss.
OBJECTIVE: This study compared levels of depression, anxiety and self-esteem in binging and nonbinging obese, adult females in a hospital weight-loss program. METHOD:Participants (n=43; mean age=43.5 yrs) completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory (CSEI) upon entering the program (Week 0). A subgroup (n=15) completed the same inventories on Week 4 and Week 8. RESULTS: Binge eaters had significantly higher levels of depression (p<0.002) and lower levels of self-esteem (p<0.001) on Week 0. For the subgroup that remained in the program through Week 8, significantly higher depression levels (p<0.01) and anxiety levels (p<0.05) persisted for the binge eaters. DISCUSSION: Results indicate that obese binge eaters have more psychological distress than nonbingers, and that these differences tend to persist even during weight loss.
Authors: R L Spitzer; S Yanovski; T Wadden; R Wing; M D Marcus; A Stunkard; M Devlin; J Mitchell; D Hasin; R L Horne Journal: Int J Eat Disord Date: 1993-03 Impact factor: 4.861