Dichotomous thinking: Its relationship with eating attitudes and fat phobia in pre-obese and obese adults

Abstract

Dichotomous thinking may cause individuals to classify foods as “good” or “bad” by oversimplifying their thought processes. This study aims to examine the relationship between the Dichotomous Thinking Scale (DTS) and eating attitudes in pre-obese and obese adults, as well as to evaluate its impact on fat phobia. Participants completed a survey consisting of questions about their sociodemographic characteristics and nutritional habits, the Fat Phobia Scale (FPS), the Dichotomous Thinking in Eating Disorders Scale (DTEDS), the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26), and a 3-day food consumption record (two weekdays and one weekend day). As the “Food” subfactor scores of the DTEDS increased, the “Diet” and “Oral Control” subfactor scores of the EAT-26 and the “Total EAT-26” scores also increased (p < 0.05). As the “General” subfactor scores of the DTEDS increased, the total scores of the FPS, the “Bulimia and Food Preoccupation” and “Oral Control” subfactor scores of the EAT-26, and the “Total EAT-26” scores also increased (p < 0.05). As the “Total DTEDS” scores increased, the “Diet,” “Bulimia and Food Preoccupation,” and “Oral Control” subfactor scores of the EAT-26 and the “Total EAT-26” scores also increased (p < 0.05). Dichotomous thinking has been found to be significantly associated with eating attitudes and fat phobia and increases eating attitudes and fat phobia. However, dichotomous thinking has no significant effect on the total scores of the EAT-26 and FPS.