Compassionate Attention and Regulation of Eating Behaviour: A pilot study of a brief low‐intensity intervention for binge eating

A low‐intensity 4‐week intervention that included components of compassion, mindfulness, and acceptance was delivered to women diagnosed with binge eating disorder. Participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 conditions: intervention (n  = 11) or waiting list control (n  = 9). Participants in the intervention condition were invited to practise mindfulness, soothing rhythm breathing, and compassionate imagery practices with a focus on awareness and acceptance of emotional states and triggers to binge eating and engagement in helpful actions. Results revealed that, in the intervention group, there were significant reductions in eating psychopathology symptoms, binge eating symptoms, self‐criticism, and indicators of psychological distress; there were significant increases in compassionate actions and body image‐related psychological flexibility. Data suggest that developing compassion and acceptance competencies may improve eating behaviour and psychological well‐being in individuals with binge eating disorder.     

Examining the mediating roles of binge eating and emotional eating in the relationships between stress and metabolic abnormalities

To test whether binge eating and emotional eating mediate the relationships between self-reported stress, morning cortisol and the homeostatic model of insulin resistance and waist circumference. We also explored the moderators of gender and age. Data were from 249 adults (mean BMI = 26.9 ± 5.1 kg/m²; mean age = 28.3 ± 8.3 years; 54.2 % male; 69.5 % white) recruited from the community who were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. Participants completed a comprehensive assessment panel of psychological and physiological assessments including a morning blood draw for plasma cortisol. We found negative relationships between stress and morning cortisol (r = ?0.15 to ?0.21; p < 0.05), and cortisol and the homeostatic model of insulin resistance and waist circumference (r = ?0.16, ?0.25, respectively; p < 0.05). There was not statistical support for binge eating or emotional eating as mediators and no support for moderated mediation for either gender or age; however, gender moderated several paths in the model. These include the paths between perceived stress and emotional eating (B = 0.009, p < 0.001), perceived stress and binge eating (B = 0.01, p = 0.003), and binge eating and increased HOMA-IR (B = 0.149, p = 0.018), which were higher among females. Among women, perceived stress may be an important target to decrease binge and emotional eating. It remains to be determined what physiological and psychological mechanisms underlie the relationships between stress and metabolic abnormalities.     

Binge antecedents in obese women with and without binge eating disorder

In this study, women with binge eating disorder (BED; n = 41) and weight- and age-matched comparison women without BED (NBED; n = 38) monitored their eating for 6 days, using handheld computers to measure mood, appetite, and setting at all eating episodes and comparison noneating episodes. Poor mood, low alertness, feelings of poor eating control, and craving sweets all preceded binge episodes for the BED group. An unanticipated finding was the frequent report of binge episodes in the comparison group; only feelings of poor eating control and craving sweets predicted binge episodes in this group. Binge eating NBED women tended to experience worse mood, less control, and more craving than other NBED women, contributing to evidence of the close relationship of binge eating and decrements in emotional and appetitive functioning.     

Effect of BMI and Binge Eating on Food Reward and Energy Intake: Further Evidence for a Binge Eating Subtype of Obesity

BackgroundThe psychological characteristics of binge eating have been proposed as a phenotype to further understanding of overconsumption and susceptibility to obesity. This study examined the influence of trait binge eating in lean and overweight or obese women on appetite, food reward and energy intake.Methods25 lean and 25 overweight or obese women were categorised as either ‘binge type’ or ‘non-binge type’ based on their scores on the Binge Eating Scale. Food reward and food intake were assessed in fasted and fed conditions.ResultsOverweight or obese binge types (O-B) consumed more energy than overweight or obese non-binge types (O-NB) and lean binge (L-B) and non-binge types (L-NB). Both L-B and O-B exhibited greater preference for sweet foods. In O-NB, L-B and L-NB, lower liking and wanting for sweet foods was exhibited in the fed condition compared to the fasted condition. However, in O-B wanting for sweet foods was greater when they were fed compared to when they were in a fasted state.ConclusionsThese findings provide further support for trait binge eating as a hedonic subtype of obesity. Binge types were characterised by greater intake of high-fat sweet foods and increased wanting for these foods when satiated. Additionally, these findings highlight the potential for separation in liking and wanting for food as a marker of susceptibility to overeat.Key Words: Hedonic eating, Food reward, Binge eating trait, Implicit wanting, Explicit liking     

V˙O2peak and the gas-exchange anaerobic threshold during incremental arm cranking in able-bodied and paraplegic men

Resting energy expenditure, peak oxygen uptake (V˙O_2peak) and the gas-exchange anaerobic threshold (Th_an) were measured during incremental arm cranking (15?W?·?min^?1) in six able-bodied (AB) and six paraplegic (P) subjects. Only male subjects with traumatic spinal cord injuries in the area of the 10–12th thoracic segment were included in the P group. All AB and P subjects were physically active. Mean (SE) values for age and body mass were 28 (2)?years and 78.9 (3.9)?kg for the AB group and 32 (4)?years and 70.8 (7.9)?kg for the P group (P?>?0.05). Resting energy expenditure values were not found to be significantly different between AB [5.8 (0.2)?kJ?·?min^?1] and P [5.1 (0.3)?kJ?·?min^?1] subjects. Mean V˙O_2peak values were 29.3 (2.4)?ml?· kg^?1?· min^?1 and 29.6 (2.2)?ml?·?kg^?1?·?min^?1 for the AB and P groups, respectively (P?>?0.05). Absolute oxygen uptake values measured at two gas-exchange anaerobic threshold (Th_an) were not significantly different between the two groups. However, the Th_an occurred at a significantly higher percentage of V˙O_2peak in the P [58.9 (1.7)%] group than in the AB [50.0 (2.8)%] group (P?R) values obtained at the Th_an and at 15, 45, 60, 75 and 90?W of incremental exercise were significantly lower in the P group than in the AB group. Heart rates were significantly elevated at every submaximal work stage (15–120?W) in the P group compared to the AB group (P?R) during arm exercise. These local adaptations may be in part responsible for the significantly higher Th_an observed for arm exercise in P subjects, even though V˙O_2peak values were essentially the same for both groups.     

Beta-endorphin infusion alters pancreatic hormone and glucose levels during exercise in rats

β-Endorphin (BE) infusion at rest can influence insulin and glucagon levels and thus may affect glucose availability during exercise. To clarify the effect of BE on levels of insulin, glucagon and glucose during exercise, 72 untrained male Sprague-Dawley rats were infused i.v. with either: (1) BE (bolus 0.05?mg?·?kg^?1 +0.05?mg?·?kg^?1?·?h^?1, n?=?24); (2) naloxone (N, bolus 0.8?mg?·?kg^?1?+?0.4?mg?·?kg^?1, n?=?24); or (3) volume-matched saline (S, n?=?24). Six rats from each group were killed after 0, 60, 90 or 120 min of running at 22?m?·?min^?1, at 0% gradient. BE infusion resulted in higher plasma glucose levels at 60?min [5.93 (0.32)?mM] and 90?min [4.16 (0.29)?mM] of exercise compared to S [4.62 (0.27) and 3.41 (0.26?mM] and N [4.97 (0.38) and 3.44 (0.25)?mM]. Insulin levels decreased to a greater extent with BE [21.5 (0.9) and 18.3 (0.6) uIU?·?ml^?1] at 60 and 90?min compared to S [24.5 (0.5) and 20.6 (0.6)?uIU?·?ml^?1] and N [24.5 (0.4) and 21.6 (0.7)?uIU?· ml^?1] groups. Plasma C-peptide declined to a greater extent at 60 and 90?min of exercise with BE infusion compared to both S and N. BE infusion increased glucagon at all times during exercise compared to S and N. These data suggest that BE infusion during exercise influences plasma glucose by augmenting glucagon levels and attenuating insulin release.     

Obesity and interpersonal problems: an analysis with the interpersonal circumplex

This study examines the interpersonal problems profiles of obese individuals by cluster analysing the interpersonal problems circumplex scores of participants. The Inventory of Interpersonal Problems-Short Circumplex (IIP-32) was completed by 368 treatment-seeking obese individuals. These data were cluster analysed, and groups of obese subjects defined by varying interpersonal problems were compared with regard to psychological distress, self-esteem, body dissatisfaction, quality of life and binge behaviours. Cluster analyses of the IIP-32 resulted in four clusters, which occupied two quadrants of the interpersonal circumplex. Several differences in body mass index, psychological distress, quality of life and body dissatisfaction emerged across the four interpersonal groups. Although obese individuals reported elevated interpersonal distress, these subjects are not homogeneous with regard to interpersonal problems. Psychiatric co-morbidity and psychological distress may explain these interpersonal differences. These findings underscore the importance for clinicians to assess carefully patients' interpersonal functioning, especially with respect to treatment-seeking obese patients. KEY PRACTITIONER MESSAGE: Research has not consistently specified the types of interpersonal problems most frequently experienced by treatment-seeking obese individuals. Most obese individuals share a friendly-dominant interpersonal style. This research supports the importance of measuring and targeting interpersonal variables in the design and evaluation of obesity treatment programmes.     

Opioidergic consequences of dietary-induced binge eating

Endogenous opioids are involved in the hedonic aspects of eating. Opioid impairments and alterations have been implicated in the pathophysiology of bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder. Specific contributions by Bartley G. Hoebel have furthered the understanding how cyclical caloric restriction and intermittent optional access to sugar solutions result in opioid-like forebrain neural alterations and dependency in rodents. The present study sought to investigate caudal brainstem and nodose ganglion mu-opioid receptor mRNA alterations in a rodent model of dietary-induced binge eating of sweetened fat (vegetable shortening blended with 10% sucrose). Five groups (n = 7 or 8) of adult female Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to various dietary conditions for 6 weeks. As measured by in situ hybridization, there was reduced (approximately 25% from naive) mu-opioid receptor mRNA in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) in the binge access group, which had intermittent calorie restriction and optional limited access to the sweetened fat. A similar reduction in expression was demonstrated in the continuous access group, which has unlimited optional sweetened fat and an obese phenotype. In the nodose ganglion, mu-opioid receptor mRNA was increased (approximately 30% from groups with sweetened fat access) in rats with intermittent caloric restriction alone. Our findings and the body of work from the Hoebel laboratory suggest that dietary-induced binge eating can consequentially alter opioidergic forebrain and hindbrain feeding-related neural pathways. Future work is needed to determine whether similar alterations are involved in the maintenance and progression of binge eating and other related eating pathologies.     

The prevalence of DSM-IV personality pathology among individuals with bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and obesity

BACKGROUND: There are numerous reports of personality disorder pathology in different eating disorders. However, few studies have directly compared personality pathology in bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and obesity. The present study examines group differences in DSM-IV personality pathology, considering the potential utility of understanding personality disorders in terms of diagnosis and dimensional scores. METHOD: Eating disorder diagnoses were established using the Eating Disorder Examination interview. Thirty-five bulimia nervosa patients, 15 binge eating disorder patients and 37 obese patients were assessed and compared on the International Personality Disorder Examination using categorical and dimensional personality disorder scores. RESULTS: For most personality disorders, there was a dichotomy of binge eaters versus non-binge eaters. In contrast, there was a continuum of severity in borderline personality disorder pathology between the groups. The dimensional system of measurement of personality pathology allowed for clearer differentiation between the groups. CONCLUSION: The study strongly indicates that personality disorder difficulties are present in patients who binge eat, while obese patients who do not binge eat display significantly less personality disorder pathology. Assessment of bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and obesity needs to address personality disorders and pathology. Dimensional markers of personality pathology can be used to supplement categorical diagnoses, providing information about the traits that underlie diagnosis.     

Attitude Matters! How Attitude towards Bariatric Surgery Influences the Effects of Behavioural Weight Loss Treatment

IntroductionMultidisciplinary obesity services at university hospitals usually treat patients with more complex and severe obesity. In addition, patients with Class 3 obesity, in particular, have different attitudes regarding the choices of therapy.MethodsThis explorative study investigated the effect of patient attitudes towards bariatric surgery on body weight change (primary outcome) and psychological improvement (secondary outcomes: quality of life, depression, anxiety, and eating behaviour) in a 6-month moderate behavioural weight loss (BWL) programme in a university outpatient setting.Results297 patients with mostly Class 3 obesity participated in the programme. The patients did not yet have any indications for bariatric surgery. Of the participants, 37% had a positive attitude towards bariatric surgery (POS), whereas 38% had a negative attitude (NEG). The drop-out rate was 8%. NEG participants lost significantly more body weight than the POS participants (intention-to-treat population: 4.5 [SD: 6.3] kg versus 0.4 [SD: 5.8] kg; p < 0.001). In both subgroups, anxiety, depression, the mental score for quality of life, and eating behaviour improved.ConclusionA BWL treatment in a clinical setting identified 2 distinct groups with different attitudes towards bariatric surgery that were associated with different body weight change outcomes. These groups may require differently targeted programmes to achieve the best body weight loss results.     

Binge eating in overweight treatment-seeking adolescents

OBJECTIVE: To examine the frequency and recency of binge eating in relation to psychopathology in overweight, treatment-seeking adolescents. METHODS: We investigated psychological correlates of the frequency and recency of reported loss of control (LOC) eating episodes in 160 overweight (body mass index [BMI]: 40.7 +/- 8.8 kg/m(2)) adolescents. On the basis of the responses to the eating disorder examination (EDE), participants were categorized into one of four groups: full-syndrome binge eating disorder (BED); recent but infrequent binge eating (episodes within the 3 months before interview; RECENT-BINGE); remote and infrequent LOC eating (episodes occurring >3 months before assessment; PAST-LOC), or no history of LOC episodes (NE). RESULTS: The BED group reported higher EDE scores (global, p < .01), and more negative mood and anxiety than all other groups (p's < .01). Compared with NE, RECENT-BINGE also reported more anxiety and higher EDE scores (p's < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Overweight, treatment-seeking adolescents with BED are clearly distinguishable from teens without the disorder on measures of eating-related psychopathology, mood, and anxiety. RECENT-BINGE, but not PAST-LOC, is also associated with significantly greater eating-related and general psychopathology.     

Do fire-fighters develop specific ventilatory responses in order to cope with exercise whilst wearing self-contained breathing apparatus?

In the present study we compared the ventilatory performance whilst wearing self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) during exercise, of a group of male fire-fighters (FF, n?=?8), with a matched group of male civilians (CV, n?=?7). The mean (SEM) physiological characteristics of the subjects (FF vs CV) were: age 31 (2)?years vs 32 (4)?years; height 179 (2)?cm vs 183 (3)?cm, P??1?vs 4.39 (0.27) l?·?min^?1. Volunteers performed a 23-minute fire-fighting simulation (Firetest), without and with SCBA (Fire-fighter II, Siebe-Gorman/North Safety, Cheshire, UK). During SCBA wear, the FF group used significantly less air and rated their breathlessness significantly lower than the CV group. The mean tidal volume (V _T) of the FF group remained constant between non-SCBA and SCBA wear conditions, but the CV group increased their mean V _T by 18%, (P?f _b), or heart rate. These data suggest that the respiratory responses of firefighters while wearing SCBA, which are characterised by increases in (?f _b) but not V _T, may help to reduce their breathlessness during exercise while wearing SCBA.     

Bias in binge eating disorder: how representative are recruited clinic samples?

The aim of this study was to investigate sampling bias as it affects recruited clinic samples of binge eating disorder (BED). Demographic and clinical characteristics of a recruited clinic sample were compared with a community sample. The 2 groups met the same operational definition of BED and were assessed using the same primarily interview-based methods. Ethnicity, severity of binge eating, and social maladjustment were found to increase treatment seeking among participants with BED rather than levels of psychiatric distress or comorbidity. These findings suggest that previous studies using recruited clinic samples have not biased estimates of psychiatric comorbidity in BED.     

Psychological Distress Mediates the Effect of Alexithymia on 2-Year Change in HIV Viral Load

Purpose

Individuals with trait alexithymia (AL) display poor cognitive assimilation of thoughts, feelings, and emotions. This may result in the persistence of stress, anxiety, and depressive disorders. The cumulative effect of this psychological distress is also linked clinical markers of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease progression. This study examines the indirect effect of AL on HIV viral load as a function of baseline levels and change in psychological distress.

Methods

N?=?123 HIV positive adults aged 37.9?±?9.2 years provided blood samples for HIV-1 viral RNA and CD4 T lymphocytes along with self-reported stress, anxiety, and depression every 6 months for 2 years. A second-order conditional latent growth model was used to represent baseline and 2-year change in cumulative levels of psychological distress and to test the indirect effect of baseline levels of trait AL on change in HIV-1 viral load through this latent measure.

Results

AL was associated with baseline and latent change in psychological distress. Furthermore, baseline psychological distress predicted 2-year change in HIV-1 viral RNA after controlling for viral load at baseline. Altogether, trait AL had a significant indirect effect on change in viral load (β?=?0.16, p?=?0.03) as a function of baseline levels of distress.

Conclusion

Identification and communication of thoughts, feelings, and emotions are important for long-term psychological adaptation in HIV. Greater psychological distress, in turn, allows for persistence of peripheral viral replication.

     

Characteristics of Childhood Onset and Post-Puberty Onset Obesity and Weight Regain after Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy in Japanese Subjects: A Subgroup Analysis of J-SMART

IntroductionThe psychosocial background of subjects with severe obesity developed from childhood onset obesity (CO) and their outcomes after bariatric surgery have not been fully investigated.Methods305 subjects were enrolled in the J-SMART study, which examined the effects of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) in Japan, and categorized into two groups: CO defined as onset up to 13 years of age (CO group) and post-puberty onset obesity defined as onset after 13 years of age (PPO group). The subjects were followed up for at least 2 years and up to 5 years after LSG. Changes in physical parameters and remission of obesity-related comorbidities were assessed at 2 years after LSG. Weight regain (WR) was also assessed by evaluating the nadir weight after LSG and maximum weight thereafter during follow-up period.ResultsThe mean postoperative follow-up period was 3.0 ± 1.1 years. 40.0% of the subjects had CO and these subjects had higher BMI and HOMA-β and lower age, HbA1c, HDL cholesterol, and visceral/subcutaneous fat area ratio compared to those with PPO. The CO group was also characterized by having higher rates of mental retardation, developmental disorders, and obesity in either parent and lower rate of marriage compared to the PPO group. Two years after LSG, there were no differences in total weight loss and remission rates of diabetes, dyslipidemia, and sleep apnea syndrome between the two groups, although remission rate of hypertension was higher in the CO group. The CO group also had a higher rate of WR after LSG than the PPO group, with CO, BMI, mental disorder, and binge eating contributing to WR.ConclusionThis study suggests that CO might be associated with genetic and psychosocial factors. CO and PPO probably differ in pathogenesis and may require different treatment strategies.     

Substrate use during and following moderate- and low-intensity exercise: Implications for weight control

Substrate utilization during and after low- and moderate-intensity exercise of similar caloric expenditure was compared. Ten active males [age: 26.9?(4.8) years; height: 181.1?(4.8)?cm; Mass: 75.7?(8.8)?kg; maximum O₂ consumption (V˙O_{2 max} ): 51.2?(4.8)?ml?·?kg^?1?· min^?1] cycled at 33% and 66% V˙O_{2 max} on separate days for 90 and 45 min, respectively. After exercise, subjects rested in a recumbent position for 6?h. Two?h post-exercise, subjects ate a standard meal of 66% carbohydrate (CHO), 11% protein, and 23% fat. Near-continuous indirect calorimetry and measurement of urinary nitrogen excretion were used to determine substrate utilization. Total caloric expenditure was similar for the two trials; however, significantly (P<0.05) more fat [42.4?(3.6)?g versus 24.0?(12.2)?g] and less CHO [142.5?(28.5)?g versus 188.8?(45.2)?g] was utilized as a substrate during the low-intensity compared to the moderate-intensity trial. Protein utilization was similar for the two trials. The difference in substrate use can be attributed to the exercise period because over twice as much fat was utilized during low-intensity [30.0?(11.0)?g] compared to moderate-intensity exercise [13.6?(6.6)?g]. Significantly more (P<0.05) CHO was utilized during the moderate-intensity [106.0?(27.8)?g] compared to the low-intensity exercise [68.7?(20.0)?g]. Substrate use during the recovery period was not significantly different. We conclude that low-intensity, long-duration exercise results in a greater total fat oxidation than does moderate intensity exercise of similar caloric expenditure. Dietary-induced thermogenesis was not different for the two trials.     

Effect of exercise training on total daily physical activity in elderly humans

This study examined the effect of 12 weeks of exercise training on daily physical activity in elderly humans. Training consisted of a weekly group session and an individual session with cardio- and weight-stack machines. A group of 15 subjects served as the exercise group [EXER mean age 59 (SD 4)?years], and 7 subjects as the controls [CONT mean age 57 (SD 3)?years]. Physical activity and physical fitness were measured before the start of training (T), at week 6 and week 12 (T₀, T₆, T₁₂ respectively) in EXER, and at T₀ and T₁₂ in CONT. Physical activity over 14 days was measured using a tri-axial accelerometer and physical fitness was measured during an incremental exercise test. At T₁₂, mean maximal power output had significantly increased in EXER compared to CONT 8 (SD 12) vs ?5 (SD 9)?W; P??1; P?6, physical activity on training days was significantly higher than on non-training days (P?12 non-training physical activity was significantly lower than on non-training days (P?12 had significantly increased compared to T₆ (P?相似文献   

Improvement of diabetic or obese patients’ erythrocyte deformability by the program of the brain-oriented obesity control system (BOOCS)

Diabetes is characterized by absolute or relative insulin deficiency complicated with microangiopathy, whereas obesity stems from insulin resistance. A psychosomatic approach to obesity and diabetes has been highlighted, including the brain-oriented obesity control system (BOOCS). Impaired deformability of erythrocytes in obese or diabetic patients is closely linked to disturbed microcirculation, and improvement of abnormal erythrocyte rheology is a prerequisite for the prevention and treatment of microangiopathy. Therefore, erythrocyte filterability, whole cell deformability defined as flow rate of erythrocyte suspension relative to that of saline, was assessed by the nickel-mesh-filtration technique. Subjects included healthy controls (group A, n?=?14), diabetic, non-obese participants (group B, n?=?29), and non-diabetic, obese participants (group C, n?=?32) in the 6-month BOOCS program, and most patients in groups B and C (86.9?%) completed this program. Baseline mean erythrocyte filterabilities were 89.4?±?1.7?% in group A, 82.8?±?5.2?% in group B, and 84.1?±?5.6?% in group C, showing significant intergroup differences (p?<?0.001). This program significantly improved (p?<?0.001) the impaired erythrocyte filterability in groups B (87.9?±?4.4?%) and C (88.5?±?3.7?%). Declines in HbA1c (p?=?0.387) and body mass index (p?=?0.479) were not correlated to this improvement. These findings indicate that the mechanisms of BOOCS-induced improvement of diabetic or obese patients?? erythrocyte deformability are multifactorial, and that the BOOCS program for these patients is a holistic, cost-effective, and highly compliant approach possibly ameliorating microcirculation.     

Comparison of adolescents with and without diabetes on indices of psychosocial functioning for three years

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether diabetes is associated with psychosocial difficulties over the transition to adolescence. METHODS: We compared adolescents with diabetes (n = 132) with a healthy comparison group (n = 131) on indices of psychosocial functioning for 3 years. We interviewed both groups annually and had one parent complete a questionnaire. RESULTS: There were no group differences in depressive symptoms, anxiety, anger, or behavioral problems. However, adolescents with diabetes showed greater declines in social acceptance compared with healthy adolescents, and a greater rise in disturbed eating behavior. Over time, depressive symptoms and anxiety increased and self-worth decreased for females but not males; however, these differences were not qualified by group CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes is not associated with indicators of psychological distress from early to middle adolescence, but may be associated with the emergence of social difficulties and eating disturbances. Gender differences in psychological distress emerged, replicating past research.     

Overvaluation of shape and weight in binge eating disorder

The excessive influence of shape or weight on self-evaluation--referred to as overvaluation--is considered by some a central feature across eating disorders but is not a diagnostic requirement for binge eating disorder (BED). This study examined shape/weight overvaluation in 399 consecutive patients with BED. Participants completed semistructured interviews, including the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE; C. G. Fairburn & Z. Cooper, 1993) and several self-report measures. Shape/weight overvaluation was unrelated to body mass index (BMI) but was strongly associated with measures of eating-related psychopathology and psychological status (i.e., higher depression and lower self-esteem). Participants were categorized via EDE guidelines into 1 of 2 groups: clinical overvaluation (58%) or subclinical overvaluation (42%). The 2 groups did not differ significantly in BMI or binge eating frequency, but the clinical overvaluation group had significantly greater eating-related psychopathology and poorer psychological status than the subclinical overvaluation group. Findings suggest that overvaluation does not simply reflect concern commensurate with being overweight but is strongly associated with eating-related psychopathology and psychological functioning and warrants consideration as a diagnostic feature for BED.