If you have an apple-shaped body, then you may be more susceptible to binge eating, according to a new study.
The Drexel University study found that women with apple-shaped bodies - those who store more of their fat in their trunk and abdominal regions - may be at particular risk for the development of eating episodes during which they experience a sense of "loss of control."
The study also found that women with greater fat stores in their midsections reported being less satisfied with their bodies, which may contribute to loss-of-control eating.
This study marks the first investigation of the connections between fat distribution, body image disturbance and the development of disordered eating.
Eating disorders that are detected early are much more likely to be successfully treated. "Although existing eating disorder risk models comprehensively address psychological factors, we know of very few biologically-based factors that help us predict who may be more likely to develop eating disorder behaviors," said lead author Laura Berner.
Berner noted that the study reveals that centralized fat distribution may be an important risk factor for the development of eating disturbance, specifically for loss-of-control eating, suggesting that targeting individuals who store more of their fat in the midsection and adapting psychological interventions to focus specifically on body fat distribution could be beneficial for preventing eating disorders.
The study is published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.