Internalized weight bias in obese patients with binge eating disorder: associations with eating disturbances and psychological functioning.

Objective: Widespread bias against obese individuals may lead to the internalization of weight bias in obese persons. This study examined correlates of internalized weight bias (IWB) in obese patients with binge eating disorder (BED).

Method: One hundred treatment-seeking obese patients with BED were administered with the eating disorders examination interview and questionnaires assessing IWB, fat phobia, depression, and self-esteem.

Results: The mean IWB score in this group of patients with BED was significantly greater than the mean IWB score observed previously in a community sample of overweight adults. IWB was positively associated with eating disorder psychopathology, fat phobia, and depression, and negatively associated with self-esteem. IWB made significant independent contributions to the variance in eating disorder psychopathology even after accounting for fat phobia, depression, and self-esteem.

Discussion: Treatment-seeking obese patients with BED demonstrate high levels of IWB. IWB may contribute to the variance in eating disorder psychopathology in BED patients, beyond the contributions of fat phobia, depression, and self-esteem.