The central aim of the present study was to examine the role of expectancies in binge eating behavior. Two distinct statistical techniques were used to accomplish this goal. First, regression analyses were conducted using variables previously identified in the literature, as well as eating expectancies as measured by the Eating Expectancy Inventory (EEI). For both females and males, regression equations including expectancies accounted for a substantial portion of the variance in binge eating behavior. Second, memory modeling techniques were used to model the probable organization of eating expectancies. Memory modeling of hypothetical expectancy networks has lead to successful interventions in alcohol use, and preliminary work in eating revealed a fundamental difference in the way that individuals with high levels of pathology activate and store eating related messages. In the present study, Individual Differences Scaling was used to model the two-dimensional organization of an eating expectancy memory network in relation to binge eating. INDSCAL weights indicated that participants with higher levels of binge eating placed more emphasis on the positive-negative dimension, and examination of group means revealed that high binge eaters expected more change in mood in response to eating. All findings are discussed in terms of implications for enhancing assessment, treatment, and prevention strategies.

Obesity is a growing problem in the United States. Research into the causes, treatment, and prevention of obesity is vital. One past study examined four eating behaviors in relation to obesity: eating beyond satiety, snacking, night eating, and feeling hungry within three hours of eating. Only eating beyond satiety was associated with obesity. The present study examined these same eating behaviors while correcting some of the flaws of the previous study. Using a cross-sectional design, university undergraduates reported on the frequency of the above-named eating behaviors. Current weight and height were collected. Multiple regression analyses determined that eating beyond satiety and hunger predicted body mass index (BMI). Race/ethnicity moderated the relationship between hunger and BMI. These findings have important implications for obesity treatment as well as suggesting important avenues for future research.