The relationship between body weight (body mass index) and attachment history in young women.

Objective: This study investigated whether attachment history predicts unique variance in body mass index in young women.

Method: A cross-sectional design was employed. One hundred and forty five women completed self report measures of attachment history and psychological symptoms.

Results: The findings indicated that negative parental discipline predicted significant variance in body mass index when common variance associated with demographic and psychological symptom measures was taken into account.

Conclusions: It is concluded that attachment history may contribute to overweight and obesity and may be an important factor to consider in the prevention and treatment of overweight in women.