BEING FAT VERSUS THINKING FAT - RELATIONSHIPS WITH BODY-IMAGE, EATING BEHAVIORS, AND WELL-BEING

The majority of females and about one-fourth of men who are objectively normal weight perceive themselves to be overweight. The purpose of this investigation was to examine specific psychological differences between persons as a function of their weight self-classifications with actual weight controlled and vice versa. Subjects were sampled from a nationwide survey. Study 1 compared normal-weight subjects self-classified as overweight with age- and weight-matched subjects who were self-classified as normal weight (n's = 198 females and 130 males) on facets of body image, eating/dieting behaviors, and psychosocial well-being. Relative to controls, self-classified overweight subjects of both sexes reported a less adaptive body image in several respects, and more frequent binge eating and dietary restraint to lose weight, as well as poorer well-being. Study 2 included only self-classified overweight subjects and compared those who were actually overweight with normal-weight controls (n's = 112 females and 106 males). Actually being overweight produced only a few group differences, particularly for females, beyond those of the overweight self-classification. Research directions and clinical implications are discussed. © 1990 Plenum Publishing Corporation.