Relationship between motivation for weight loss and dieting and binge eating in a representative population survey.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between reasons for weight loss and previous dieting attempts and current binge-eating episodes in overweight and obese individuals. METHOD For the n = 355 interviewees of a representative sample of Swiss inhabitants (n = 1,000) reporting a body mass index (BMI) of ≥25, the Weight Loss Motivation Questionnaire--distinguishing between the three scales: health, appearance in relation to oneself, and appearance in relation to others--was assessed. Pearson's and Spearman's rank correlation coefficients and the partial correlation coefficient controlling for age, sex, socioeconomic status, and BMI were calculated. RESULTS Number of previous diets was significantly correlated with all three subscales, whereas presence of binge-eating episodes was only significantly correlated with appearance in relation to oneself. DISCUSSION Dieting and binge-eating behavior are differently associated with reasons for weight loss; better matching of treatments to patients' individual needs might improve the high dropout rates observed in weight loss treatments and enhance weight loss success.