Negative affect prior to and following overeating-only, loss of control eating-only, and binge eating episodes in obese adults

Abstract

Objective: The objective was to examine the trajectory of five types of negative affect (global negative affect, fear, guilt, hostility, sadness) prior to and following three types of eating episodes (overeating in the absence of loss of control [OE-only], loss of control eating in the absence of overeating [LOC-only], and binge eating) among obese adults using ecological momentary assessment (EMA).

Method: Fifty obese adults (84% female) completed a two-week EMA protocol during which they were asked to record all eating episodes and rate each episode on continua of overeating and loss of control. Momentary measures of global negative affect, fear, guilt, hostility, and sadness were assessed using an abbreviated version of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). Trajectories for each of the five types of negative affect were modeled prior to and following episodes of OE-only, LOC-only, and binge eating.

Results: Consistent with previous findings, global negative affect and Guilt increased prior to and decreased following binge eating episodes (all ps < .05). Guilt also decreased following OE-only episodes (p < .05).

Discussion: These results are consistent with the affect regulation model of binge eating and suggest that binge eating may function to regulate global negative affect, and more specifically, guilt among obese adults. These data suggest that the relationship between negative affect and binge eating may not be unique to individuals with clinical eating disorders and indicate that targeting negative affect may be an effective strategy for the treatment of binge eating in the context of obesity.

Keywords: affect regulation model; binge eating; ecological momentary assessment; negative affect; obesity.

Figure 1

Temporal association between higher-order negative affect subscale and overeating-only, loss of control eating-only, and binge eating episodes. The figure shows the momentary levels and trajectories of global negative affect associated with overeating-only, loss of control eating-only, and binge eating episodes. The pre- and post-event trajectories of global negative affect were modeled separately using piecewise linear, quadratic, and cubic functions centered on the time at which each of the eating episodes occurred. Momentary observations (Level 1) were nested within subjects (Level 2). Both pre- and post-event linear components in the binge eating model were significant indicating a change in the trajectory of global negative affect before and after binge eating episodes. The scaling of the y-axis ranged from 11.0 to 55.0. *p<.05.

Figure 2

Temporal association between lower-order negative affect subscales and overeating-only, loss of control eating-only, and binge eating episodes. The figure shows the momentary levels and trajectories of the facets of negative affect associated with overeating-only, loss of control eating-only, and binge eating episodes. The pre- and post-event trajectories of each negative affect subscale were modeled separately using piecewise linear, quadratic, and cubic functions centered on the time at which each of the eating episodes occurred. Momentary observations (Level 1) were nested within subjects (Level 2). With regard to Guilt, there were significant findings for both the pre- and post-event linear components of the binge eating model as well as the post-event linear component of the OE-only model. The scaling of the y-axis ranged from 1.0 to 5.0. *p<.05. **p<.01.