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Fear of weight gain versus drive for objective thinness: Do motivations for dietary restraint moderate bulimic pathology?
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Fear of weight gain versus drive for objective thinness: Do motivations for dietary restraint moderate bulimic pathology?

Julia R. Pines and Michael R. Lowe
Appetite: Disordered Eating, v 1, 100003
Aug 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appde.2026.100003
Featured in Collection :   Drexel's Newest Publications
url
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appde.2026.100003View
Published, Version of Record (VoR) Open

Abstract

Objective Prior research suggests that the Drive for Thinness (DFT) subscale of the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI) primarily measures a fear of weight gain (like the Goldfarb Fear of Fat Scale; GFFS), rather than a desire for thinness. The Drive for Objective Thinness (DFOT) scale assesses motivation to reach a low body weight and has distinguished individuals with bulimia nervosa (BN) from non-clinical individuals. Despite these findings, DFOT remains underutilized. This study examined relationships among DFOT, DFT, and GFFS and their associations with eating disorder (ED) psychopathology. Method Female adults with BN or subthreshold BN (N = 91) completed measures assessing ED-specific psychopathology and weight history. Results The three restraint motivation measures were moderately correlated. Regression analyses revealed that all three measures of restraint motivation were significantly and positively associated with ED psychological symptoms. However, DFOT was uniquely associated with a broader range of eating and weight-related outcomes, including BMI, developmental weight suppression, and average calories consumed on a binge day. Only DFT and GFFS were significantly associated with overall illness severity. Discussion Findings support that DFT and GFFS both measure a desire to avoid weight gain and that DFOT is distinct in its relationship to eating and weight-related characteristics of BN. Given this additional evidence of differences between DFOT and DFT/GFFS, DFOT should be used along with DFT or GFFS in studies of ED psychopathology and to inform clinical interventions.

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