4 - (SYM 49) Examining Affective Consequences of Weight Suppression in Atypical Anorexia Nervosa

Introduction: Weight suppression (i.e., the difference between an individual’s past highest weight and current weight) is prospectively associated with eating disorder symptoms, and may be especially relevant for individuals with AAN who undergo significant weight loss from a relatively higher weight than individuals with AN. Research is needed to understand the interplay of physiological (i.e., weight suppression) and affective (i.e., avoidance, negative affect) mechanisms that may influence eating disorder symptoms in AAN.

Method: Participants were 231 female patients with AAN at a residential eating disorder treatment center who completed intake surveys. We used structural equation modeling to fit data to two path analysis models testing the effect of weight suppression on eating disorder symptoms through 1) experiential avoidance, and 2) negative affect.

Results: The first model achieved a good fit with χ2(1) = .37, p = .54; CFI = 1.00, TLI = 1.08, RMSEA < .001, and SRMR = .016. Weight suppression had a significant effect on avoidance (β = 0.08, ρ < .05), and avoidance had a significant effect on eating disorder symptoms (β = 0.03, ρ < .001). The second model achieved a good fit with χ2(1) = .22, p = .64; CFI = 1.00, TLI = 1.03, RMSEA < .001, and SRMR = .011. Weight suppression had a significant effect on negative affect (β = 0.07, ρ < .05), and negative affect had a significant effect on eating disorder symptoms (β = 0.06, ρ < .001).

Discussion: We found that higher weight suppression results in greater negative affect and experiential avoidance, and subsequent heightened eating disorder symptoms. Weight suppression and its affective consequences may be a potential mechanism exacerbating AAN symptomatology.