Don't check after a snack: body checking increases eating-related threat perception

Engaging in safety behaviours might exacerbate eating-related threat perception and fear in individuals with eating disorders. The present study tested this mechanism by manipulating eating disorder-related safety behaviours (i.e., body checking) in non-clinical women. It is expected that body checking after food intake increases eating-related threat perception and fear, reduces eating desires and lowers calorie consumption compared with control activities.

Ninety-nine non-clinical women had to eat two high-caloric snacks and were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: In the safety behaviour condition they measured body parts related to eating disorder concerns, in the body control condition participants measured body parts unrelated to eating disorder concerns and in the general control condition they measured pieces of furniture. After the manipulation, participants were again presented with (similar) high-calorie snacks, rated their fear, threat perception and eating desires, and completed a bogus taste test (ad-libitum intake).

Participants in the safety behaviour and body control condition perceived food intake as more threatening after the manipulation than before. There was no significant change in the general control condition. Conditions did not significantly differ in fear, eating desires and calorie consumption.

Checking body parts - even if it is only once and unrelated to eating disorder concerns - can increase eating-related threat perception in non-clinical women; to also affect fear, eating desires and calorie consumption, more persistent or intense safety behaviours might be necessary.