Does Negative Affect Mediate the Relationship Between Restriction and Binge Eating? An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study in Women with Binge-Spectrum Eating Disorders

Objective: Longitudinal research finds that both dietary restraint and restriction prospectively predict binge eating; however, research on momentary and daily predictive relationships has been mixed. The current study aimed to evaluate a combined restriction-affect regulation model of binge eating that considers whether restriction is more likely to lead to binge eating when affect is not sufficiently regulated by restriction. Method: One hundred and one women with binge-spectrum eating disorders completed a 14-day ecological momentary assessment study. Participants reported current negative affect multiple times daily and dietary restriction and/or binge eating on surveys completed after eating. A multilevel mediation model was used to evaluate whether negative affect mediates the relationship between restriction and binge eating at both within- and between-person levels. Results: The direct effect of restriction on binge eating was not significant at either within- or between-person levels. At the within-person level, restriction was not related to subsequent negative affect, but greater negative affect significantly predicted subsequent binge eating. There was a significant indirect effect of restriction on binge eating through negative affect at the between-person, but not the within-person, level.Discussion: Results suggest that momentary restriction is not a clear predictor of later binge eating, regardless of negative affect, while negative affect and binge eating are clearly linked. Future studies should further consider the conditions (e.g., time of day, type of restriction) under which momentary restriction does and does not predict binge eating. Overall, these results underscore the importance of implementing affect-regulation skills in treatment for binge eating.