An Eating Disorder Inventory-based typology of outpatient obese individuals

The literature regarding the association of personality with obesity has been generally confusing and contradictory with very different pictures of the obese person emerging. An alternative to identifying either personality types or personality traits associated with the condition is to construct a typology of obese individuals. Rather than seeking the "obesity personality," the method utilized in the current research sought to differentiate the obese population of an outpatient weight-control clinic into distinct subgroups. For purposes of this study, the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI) was employed as the measure of personality. The typing procedure using the eight EDI factor scores yielded four distinct subgroups: normal obese, normal/drive-for-thinness group, normal/perfectionist group, and distressed/bulimic group. Issues regarding treatment format, treatment needs, and treatment outcome are discussed.