Predicting Disordered Eating Behaviors in Women with Overweight and Obesity: Investigating the Role of Stigma, Shame, Guilt, Fear of Negative Evaluation and Self-Efficacy

Introduction: Obesity is a health concern with complex dimensions. This study aimed to investigate the predictive roles of psychological factors, including weight self-stigma, weight- and body-related shame and guilt, eating self-efficacy, and fear of negative appearance evaluation, on disordered eating behaviors in Iranian women with overweight and obesity. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional research was carried out in 2020-2021 among 228 Iranian women, aged 18 to 70 years, with overweight and obesity who were selected by purposive sampling method. Data were collected through online standard questionnaires. SPSS-23 was used to analyze the data. Results: All the predictor variables had significant associations with disordered eating behaviors (P 0.05, P 0.01). In addition, the results of multiple regression analysis showed that eating self-efficacy was a predictor of emotional eating behavior (β = -0.534, P 0.001). Additionally, fear of negative appearance evaluation and eating self-efficacy were predictors of external eating behavior (βf = -0.416, βs-e = -0.416, P 0.001). Moreover, weight and body related guilt and eating self-efficacy were predictors of restrained eating behavior (βg = 0.442, βs-e = 0.300, P 0.001). Conclusions: These findings emphasize the importance of psychological variables in obesity. Specifically, self-efficacy, fear of negative evaluation, and guilt were important constructs in predicting disordered eating behaviors. Thus, in clinical weight loss programs, considering psychological treatments based on strengthening self-efficacy and self-compassion in this group is helpful to improve their healthy eating behaviors.