Weighty decisions: How symptom severity and weight impact perceptions of bulimia nervosa.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

The current study examined whether variations in patient weight and eating-disorder behavior frequency influenced the recognition of bulimia nervosa (BN) and the perception that it is a serious mental health concern.

Method

Participants (N = 320) were randomly assigned to one of six conditions in which they read a vignette describing a young woman with BN. Each vignette was identical except for the variables of interest: weight status (underweight, healthy-weight, and overweight), and symptom frequency (daily or weekly binge-eating episodes and purging).

Results

Participants were more likely to have negative attitudes toward and blame the patient with overweight. Participants were less likely to believe that the patient with overweight was experiencing menta

SUBMITTER: Galbraith K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6779161 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature