Cognitive Distortions in Normal-Weight and Overweight Women: Susceptibility to Thought-Shape Fusion

Abstract

Cognitive distortions may be implicated in difficulties with normalized eating. One specific distortion relevant to eating pathology is ''thought-shape fusion'' (TSF), in which just imagining eating high-caloric food leads individuals to feel fatter, and to perceive weight gain and moral wrong-doing. The current study investigated whether there are differential responses to TSF inductions in normal-weight versus overweight females. A total of 60 females participated, who were classified as either normalweight (n = 32) or overweight (n = 28). Participants were randomly assigned to either a TSF or a neutral induction condition, and their responses on TSF questionnaires were assessed. The results indicated that normal-weight individuals reported higher TSF levels after a TSF induction than a control induction, whereas there were no significant differences across conditions for overweight individuals. This suggests that normal-weight females were more susceptible to the TSF induction than were overweight females. The results are discussed in terms of possible differences between normal-weight and overweight females in self-regulation after food-cue exposure.

Early Maladaptive Schemas and Cognitive Distortions in Adults with Morbid Obesity: Relationships with Mental Health Status

“…One study found that dichotomous thinking (a type of cognitive distortion) about food, weight and eating was predictive of weight regain, and that a general dichotomous thinking pattern (not necessarily related to food, weight or eating) was an even better predictor of weight regain [10]. Two other studies [11,12] assessed vulnerability to a specific cognitive distortion, namely thought-shape fusion, in participants with obesity and participants of normal weight. This type of cognitive distortion occurs when the imagination of the consumption of high-energy food generates the feeling of being fat and negative moral judgment.…”

Reactivity to thought–shape fusion in adolescents: the effects of obesity status

“…Although TSF is associated with eating disorders, it also occurs in women with no history of an eating disorder . However, recent research suggests that overweight women are less susceptible to TSF than are normal‐weight women , as overweight women reported lower state TSF after imagining consumption of a high‐caloric food than did normal‐weight women. Coelho and colleagues suggest that the possibility of gaining significant amounts of weight, or becoming obese, may be more threatening for normal‐weight women than for women who are already overweight (i.e., with a body mass index [BMI] of greater than 25).…”

The Role of Cognitive Factors in the Development and Maintenance of Eating Disorders – the Concept of Thought Shape Fusion

“…For this reason, we expected that there might be some shared vulnerability to TSF in individuals with OCD and ED. However, our recent research demonstrated that, in fact, individuals with OCD were much less susceptible to TSF than were individuals with ED, and exhibited lower tendencies towards TSF than did healthy women with no history of either an ED or OCD [Coelho et al, 2012a]. The presence of an adapted TSF style in individuals with other mental disorders, such as depression or anxiety, remains to be examined.…”