Increased salivation to mirror exposure in women with binge eating disorder

Although body image disturbances are not a diagnostic criterion of the binge eating disorder (BED), intervention studies yield evidence of its importance in the maintenance of the disorder. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to experimentally test the influence of body-related schemata in the occurrence of appetite in individuals with BED. After collecting baseline saliva, women with BED and weight matched controls (CG) were either given a food exposure (FE) or mirror exposure (ME), while participants’ salivary reaction was assessed once more. In addition, participants repeatedly rated their actual desire to binge (DTB) and emotions. Main results reveal a significant salivation and DTB increase in the FE compared to the baseline condition in both groups. However, only in BED participants salivation and DTB increase were significantly higher in the ME compared to the baseline condition. The results support the importance of body image for the maintenance of BED.