Understanding the link between body dissatisfaction and binge eating: a model comparison approach

This thesis explored the association between body dissatisfaction and binge eating by comparing three competing theoretical frameworks. Study I utilised a cross-sectional design and collectively these findings suggest the superiority of the dual pathway model (dietary restraint and negative affect) over the objectification theory and the escape model. The purpose of Study II was then to extend on the findings from Study I by further examining in real-time the model/theory that most strongly explained the body dissatisfaction-binge eating relationship. Participants were prompted at random intervals seven times daily across the course of a week to self-report their state body dissatisfaction, current mood experiences, and eating practices. Results revealed that negative mood, but not dietary restraint, significantly mediated the state body dissatisfaction-binge eating relationship. These results highlight that the dual pathway model is robust, but raise the possibility that the dietary restraint path in the model is not well operationalized. In light of the non-significant mediating effect of dietary restraint, this led the researcher to identify various modeling alternatives to further understand the mediating influences of the pathways of negative affect and dietary restraint.