Disgust and eating disorders

Abstract

Two studies are described which investigated the relationship between disgust sensitivity and eating disorders. In a normal sample, Study 1 found a significant correlation between measures of eating disorder and measures of disgust sensitivity, but only in female subjects. This relationship was not mediated by existing levels of anxiety or depression. Study 2 found that subjects who had clinically-diagnosed eating disorders exhibited significantly higher levels of disgust than matched normal control subjects. Both studies indicated that elevated disgust in relation to eating disorders appeared to be confined primarily to disgust of food, the body and body products, and did not extend to disgusting stimuli which are not associated with food or the body.