Weight-related and shape-related self-evaluation in eating-disordered and non-eating-disordered women

Objective: Weight- and shape-related self-evaluation refers to the process whereby an individual determines her self-worth based on an evaluation of h er body weight and shape. This is a hallmark feature of both anorexia and b ulimia nervosa, as specified in the 4th ed. of the Diagnostic and Statistic al Manual of Mental Disorders. The purpose of this study was to further our understanding of weight-related self-evaluation in eating-disordered women . Method: Eating-disordered patients, restrained eaters, and unrestrained e aters completed an experimenter-designed questionnaire that examines differ ent dimensions of weight-related self-evaluation (i.e., the Multidimensiona l Weight-Related Self-Evaluation Inventory). Results: Results revealed that weight-related self-evaluation is a feature shared, to some extent, by bot h eating-disordered patients and restrained eaters. However, eating-disorde red patients extend weight-related self-evaluation to include more domains of self-esteem than did restrained eaters. Discussion: These findings suppo rt a multidimensional approach to weight-related self-evaluation and furthe r our understanding of the process of weight-related self-evaluation in eat ing-disordered patients. (C) 2001 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.