Effects of analytical and experiential self-focus on stress-induced cognitive reactivity in eating disorder psychopathology

► The way individuals with eating disorders focus on self/body may maintain pathology. ► Two experiments to examine self-focus effects on reactions to an eating stressor. ► Analytic and experiential self-focus had distinct influences on stress reactivity. ► Analytic focus increases weight/shape distortions and elicits compensatory thoughts. ► Shifting focus to experiencing vs. thinking about self/body may improve outcome.