Correlates and associations between weight suppression and binge eating symptomatology in a population-based sample

Weight suppression (WS), the discrepancy between a person’s highest ever and current body weight, has been found in a number of studies to be associated with the onset and maintenance of bulimia nervosa (BN). The current theories on the working mechanism hypothesize that individuals with BN might be caught in a (psycho)biobehavioral bind and suggest a circle of weight loss, weight suppression, weight gain, and binge eating that in theory should also apply to a broad spectrum of binge eating symptomatology. This study was intended to test the hypothesis that WS predicts current binge eating with a loss of control (BE + LOC) in a population-based sample. We used a population-sample of participants (N = 3,512) who responded to a survey in a women’s magazine. In a logistic regression analysis, WS did not predict current BE + LOC, in contrast to high diet activity in the past year. Possible explanations for the lack of association are discussed. Future studies are needed to specify the specific active ingredients in the relation between WS and BN.

► Studies on weight suppression in population-based samples are scarce.
► In groups diagnosed with binge eating a higher weight suppression was found.
► Weight suppression did not predict binge eating with a loss of control.
► Studies are needed to fully understand the working mechanism of weight suppression.