Evaluation of Insight, Self-Esteem, and Body Satisfaction in Eating Disorders

We investigated insight and its relationship with the clinical characteristics in eating disorders (EDs). Thirty anorexia nervosa (AN) and 30 bulimia nervosa (BN) patients, diagnosed based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , Fifth Edition criteria, were evaluated with Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q), the Body Image Satisfaction Questionnaire (BISQ), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and the Brown Assessment of Beliefs Scale (BABS). There was no statistically significant difference between the AN and the BN group in clinical scale scores. Thirty percent of AN and 23.3% of BN patients showed "poor insight" according to BABS. In the whole sample, BABS scores were significantly positively correlated with the EDE-Q eating, shape, weight concern subscales, and global scores, and the RSES scores; and negatively correlated with the BISQ general appearance and trunk subscale scores. Manifestation of "poor insight" is frequent in EDs. Poor insight in EDs is associated with eating, shape and weight concerns, body dissatisfaction, and low self-esteem.