Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 10, 2026

Assessing Activity-based Anorexia in Mice
Published on: May 14, 2018
Alexithymia and body image in adult outpatients with binge eating disorder
Alessandro Carano1, Domenico De Berardis, Francesco Gambi
1Department of Oncology and Neurosciences, Institute of Psychiatry, University G. d'Annunzio of Chieti, Chieti, Italy.
Objective:
The current study elucidates the relations between alexithymia and body image in patients with binge eating disorder (BED).
Method:
One hundred one patients with BED were evaluated. Alexithymia was measured with the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). The severity of BED was measured with the Binge Eating Scale (BES). Body concerns were assessed with the Body Shape Questionnaire-Short Version (BSQ-S), the Body Uneasiness Test (BUT), and the Body Attitude Test (BAT). Additional measures were the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).
Results:
The prevalence of alexithymia in our sample was 39.6% (n = 40) and individuals with alexithymia showed higher scores on all rating scales. Higher body dissatisfaction, lower self-esteem, depressive symptoms, and the Difficulty in Identifying Feelings/Difficulty in Describing Feelings subscales of the TAS-20 were predictors of the severity of BED in the linear regression analysis.
Conclusion:
Alexithymia was associated with more severe BED. Individuals with alexithymia and BED exhibited significantly poorer appearance evaluation and body satisfaction as well as higher depressive symptoms than individuals without alexithymia.
Related Concept Videos
Binge Eating Disorders
Bulimia Nervosa
Anorexia Nervosa
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
Self-Discrepancy Theory
Borderline Personality Disorder
Genetic and Environmental Contributions
Borderline Personality...
Self-Discrepancy and Its Effects

