The sexual competition hypothesis for eating disorders

IntroductionCompeting theories on the aetiology of eating disorders originate from a diverse set of disciplines. One such discipline is Evolutionary Psychology which assumes that the human mind has been shaped by natural and sexual selection. Most evolutionary theories on eating disorders limit themselves to the causation of anorexia nervosa only. The Sexual Competition Hypothesis (SCH), based on the Darwinian theory of sexual selection, provides an explanatory framework for the whole spectrum of eating disorders. It contends that intense female intrasexual competition (ISC) is the ultimate cause of eating disorders. The SCH explains the phenomenon of the pursuit of thinness as an adaptation to ISC in the modern environment. It argues that eating disorders are pathological phenomena that arise from the mismatch between the modern environment and the inherited female adaptations for ISC.ObjectivesTo test predictions from a novel evolutionary hypothesis for eating disorders.Aimsi)To examine the relationship between disordered eating behaviour (DEB) and ISC in a sample of female undergraduates.ii)To establish whether there is any relationship between DEB and Life History (LH) strategy.MethodsA group of 206 female undergraduates were recruited. A structural equation model was constructed to analyse the data.ResultsISC for mates was significantly associated with DEB, as predicted by the SCH. DEB was found to be predicted by fast LH strategy, which was only partially mediated by the SCH.ConclusionsThe results of this study are supportive of the SCH and justify research on a clinical sample.

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Eating Disorders and Intrasexual Competition: Testing an Evolutionary Hypothesis among Young Women

The Scientific World JOURNAL ◽

10.1100/2012/290813 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Riadh Abed ◽

Sunil Mehta ◽

Aurelio José Figueredo ◽

Sarah Aldridge ◽

Hannah Balson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Eating Disorders ◽

Disordered Eating ◽

Eating Behavior ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Clinical Sample ◽

Intrasexual Competition ◽

Equation Model ◽

Sexual Competition ◽

Ultimate Cause ◽

Disordered Eating Behavior

The sexual competition hypothesis (SCH) contends that intense female intrasexual competition (ISC) is the ultimate cause of eating disorders. The SCH explains the phenomenon of the pursuit of thinness as an adaptation to ISC in the modern environment. It argues that eating disorders are pathological phenomena that arise from the mismatch between the modern environment and the inherited female adaptations for ISC. The present study has two aims. The first is to examine the relationship between disordered eating behavior (DEB) and ISC in a sample of female undergraduates. The second is to establish whether there is any relationship between disordered eating behavior and life history (LH) strategy. Participants completed a battery of questionnaires examining eating-related attitudes and behaviors, ISC, and LH strategy. A group of 206 female undergraduates were recruited. A structural equation model was constructed to analyze the data. ISC for mates was significantly associated with DEB, as predicted by the SCH. DEB was found to be predicted by fast LH strategy, which was only partially mediated by the SCH. The results of this study are supportive of the SCH and justify research on a clinical sample.

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Doctors' Eating Disorders

Skin & Allergy News ◽

10.1016/s0037-6337(13)70003-2 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 44 (1) ◽

pp. 1

Keyword(s):

Eating Disorders

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Eating Disorders, Diabetes Often Comorbid

Internal Medicine News ◽

10.1016/s1097-8690(05)71269-5 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 38 (15) ◽

pp. 40

Author(s):

KATE JOHNSON

Keyword(s):

Eating Disorders

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Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Eating Disorders

10.1017/cbo9781139644204 ◽

2001 ◽

Cited By ~ 97

Author(s):

Glenn Waller ◽

Helen Cordery ◽

Emma Corstorphine ◽

Hendrik Hinrichsen ◽

Rachel Lawson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Eating Disorders ◽

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ◽

Behavioral Therapy ◽

Cognitive Behavioral

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Internal Structure of the Spanish Adaptation of the Eating Disorder Inventory-3

European Journal of Psychological Assessment ◽

10.1027/1015-5759/a000087 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 28 (1) ◽

pp. 25-31 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Paula Elosua ◽

Alicia López-Jáuregui

Keyword(s):

Eating Disorders ◽

Eating Disorder ◽

Internal Structure ◽

Internal Consistency ◽

Clinical Sample ◽

Temporal Stability ◽

Second Order ◽

Order Structure ◽

Eating Disorder Inventory ◽

High Internal Consistency

In this study the Eating Disorder Inventory-3 was adapted to Spanish and analyzed the internal psychometric properties of the test in a clinical sample of females with eating disorders. The results showed a high internal consistency of the scores as well as high temporal stability. The factor structure of the scale composites was analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis. The results supported the existence of a second-order structure beyond the psychological composites. The second-order factor showed high correlation with the factor related to eating disorders. Overall, the Spanish version of the EDI-3 showed good psychometric qualities in terms of internal consistency, temporal stability and internal structure.

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Improving Body Satisfaction

European Psychologist ◽

10.1027/1016-9040/a000206 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

pp. 62-71 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Carolien Martijn ◽

Jessica M. Alleva ◽

Anita Jansen

Keyword(s):

Eating Disorders ◽

Body Dissatisfaction ◽

Automatic System ◽

Body Satisfaction ◽

Western Society ◽

Related Information ◽

Current Article ◽

Women And Girls

Feelings of body dissatisfaction are common in Western society, especially in women and girls. More than innocent discontent, body dissatisfaction can have serious consequences such as depression and eating disorders. The current article discusses the nature of body dissatisfaction, how it develops and how it is currently being treated. We also discuss novel strategies to increase body satisfaction that work on the automatic system (e.g., by retraining attentional and conditioning processes), since recent research suggests that appearance-related information is processed automatically. We suggest that extant methods should be combined with these novel strategies, in order to optimally improve body dissatisfaction and to prevent its detrimental consequences.

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