Binge eating and self-esteem predict body image dissatisfaction among obese men and women seeking bariatric surgery

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Abstract
Objective We examined body image dissatisfaction (BID) in extremely obese men and women seeking bariatric surgery. Methods The following predictors of BID were examined in a consecutive series of 260 (44 men and 216 women) gastric bypass candidates: gender, ethnicity, body mass index (BMI), age at onset of overweight, childhood maltreatment, binge eating, depression, and self-esteem. Results Women reported significantly higher levels of BID than men. Stepwise multiple regression analyses revealed that gender, binge eating, and self-esteem levels accounted for 41% of the variance in BID. In predicting BID levels separately by gender, binge eating and self-esteem accounted for 56% of the variance among men and for 33% of the variance among women. Discussion Among bariatric surgery candidates, women reported significantly higher BID than men. Our findings suggest the importance of binge eating and lower self-esteem for understanding BID in both men and women who are extremely obese. © 2005 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.