Denial of loss of control eating in overweight African-American and Caucasian women

This study examined whether admittance of loss of control over eating distinguished African-American women who were binge eaters from overeaters. Participants were 86 African-American and 31 Caucasian women (mean age=41.49) seeking services in an independent weight management study. Participants were divided into 1 of 3 groups based on scores on the Eating Disorder Examination and the Binge Scale Questionnaire. African-American women who denied loss of control, but endorsed behavioral indicators of loss of control eating, did not differ in eating pathology from those who admitted loss of control or consistently denied loss of control. Caucasian women who denied loss of control, but endorsed behavior indicators of loss of control eating, did not differ in eating pathology from those who consistently denied loss of control, but did differ from those who admitted loss of control. Self-reported eating pathology is not sufficient to distinguish African-American overeaters and binge eaters.