Perceived discrimination is associated with binge eating in a community sample of non-overweight, overweight, and obese adults.

OBJECTIVE The present study examined the relationship between experiences of discrimination and occurrence of binge eating among overweight and obese persons, a population which has previously shown elevated rates of binge eating. METHODS Internet-based questionnaires were used to measure frequency and impact of discrimination, binge eating frequency, and emotional eating. RESULTS Pearson correlation analyses demonstrated significant positive relationships between the measures of discrimination and measures of eating behaviors (r = 0.12-0.37). Regression models significantly predicted between 17 and 33% of the variance of emotional eating scores and frequency of binge eating; discrimination measures contributed significantly and independently to the variance in emotional eating and binge eating. Weight bias internalization was found to be a partial mediator of the relationship between discrimination and eating disturbance. CONCLUSION Results demonstrate the relationship of discrimination to binge eating. Weight bias internalization may be an important mechanism for this relationship and a potential treatment target.