Adherence
Feeling fat is significantly predicted by psychological variables (perfectionism, social pressure, social comparison, reaction to failure) and behavioral factors (binge eating, dieting frequency, lack of control over eating), independent of actual body weight.
If you feel fat despite being a healthy weight, it is likely not just about your body size. Look at your psychological patterns: do you hold yourself to perfectionist standards? Do you compare yourself to others? Do you feel pressure from your social circle to be thin? Addressing these psychological drivers and social comparisons may be more effective than focusing solely on weight loss.
Regression analysis found five variables that were significantly related to feeling fat: percent overweight, perfectionism, perceived social pressure toward thinness, social comparison regarding weight, and the degree to which failure experiences affect feelings about one’s body. Feeling fat was also highly correlated with perceived lack of control over food, repeated dieting efforts, and binge eating.
Why this rating
Two studies with moderate sample sizes (N=46, N=61) using validated scales and regression analysis showing significant correlations.
Source
Psychological and behavioral correlates of feeling fat in women
Ruth H. Striegel‐Moore et al. · International Journal of Eating Disorders · 1986
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