Experience of Feeling Fat for Women with an Anorexia Nervosa Diagnosis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
What is the experience and meaning of ‘feeling fat’ for women with a diagnosis of anorexia nervosa?
IRAS ID
151415
Contact name
Laura Major
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Hertfordshire
Research summary
This qualitative study aims to obtain an in-depth understanding of how women with a diagnosis of Anorexia Nervosa (AN) experience “feeling fat” and what this experience means to them.
Body image dissatisfaction is often expressed as “feeling fat” and is common amongst all women regardless of their weight (Striegel-Moore et al., 1986; Cooper et al., 2007; Fairburn, 2008). However, the intensity and frequency of this experience appears to be exacerbated for people with an eating disorder diagnosis (Wardle & Foley, 1989; Fairburn, 2008). Indeed, clinical accounts suggest that people with eating disorders equate feeling fat with being fat, regardless of their weight (Fairburn, 2008). This can lead to extreme dieting, purging and excessive exercising (Roth & Armstrong, 1993). It seems that the phrase “I feel fat” is both a statement about body dissatisfaction and a maintenance factor for AN (Fairburn, 2008).
Nonetheless, the research literature investigating the experience of feeling fat in women with an AN diagnosis is sparse and has predominantly used quantitative methodologies. Only one preliminary qualitative study involving one question has been conducted. Furthermore, the majority of the existing research has involved ‘healthy’ participants without an eating disorder diagnosis.
The present study will therefore add to the existing evidence by providing detailed qualitative understanding of the experience of feeling fat for women who with a diagnosis of AN. This could help Clinical Psychologists and service providers to better understand the relationship between feeling fat and AN. It is hoped that this information will provide a better understanding of service users’ needs, which will help inform treatment and thus improve services for women with AN. For example, in terms of cognitive therapy, understanding the meaning of feeling fat may provide an insight into which cognitive strategies will be helpful in supporting service users with this experience (Cooper et al., 2007).
REC name
London - Riverside Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/1292
Date of REC Opinion
14 Aug 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion