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While perfectionism is desired in a certain number of professions, including law or medicine, a perfectionist approach to the body can put a person at risk for an eating disorder. According to a recently published study, individuals with a high degree of perfectionism are often setting themselves up for a range of physical, emotional and mental problems – especially those related to binge eating.

Although it is often overlooked in the shadow of anorexia or bulimia, binge eating is a serious disorder. This condition arises when a person feels out of control and consumes a large amount of food quickly in a short period of time. Such an activity raises an individual’s risk of developing depression, obesity, diabetes and other problems.

This study, “The Perfectionism Model of Binge Eating”, was published by Dr. Simon Sherry of Dalhousie University in Halifax Nova Scotia in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. With co-author Peter Hall of the University of Waterloo, Sherry followed the daily activities of a large group of undergraduates in a quest to identify why perfectionism results in binge eating.

Researchers also focused on the type of perfectionist who appears to be at most risk – those who believe that others are evaluating their performance critically, instead of those who are self-critical. The individual who believes others are evaluating often conclude that a parent, friend or boss is being harshly judgmental of their performance and is pressuring them to be perfect.

Such a perfectionist tends to generate a lot of friction in their day-to-day lives, according to Sherry. Inflexibility and unrealistic expectations set by such individuals also tends to create problems in relationships.

Binge eating often serves as an escape from being overwhelmed with feelings of loneliness, failure and sadness. In an effort to escape from a reality that only discourages, this individual feels it is necessary to do away with higher order thoughts. Sherry highlights that the experience of eating – which includes smelling, chewing and tasting – is immediate and visceral.

Troubles and difficulties appear to disappear in the short term for binge eaters, yet the powerful negative emotions of guilt and shame that emerge after the activity last much longer. Perfectionists often try to improve their lives by engaging in disordered eating. At the same time, they are often lacking in self-awareness and therefore are reluctant to seek help as it would mean admitting that they are not perfect.

“I’m hopeful that students will read about this and realize that there are effective interventions for binge eating,” said Sherry, “including some help for perfectionism–change is possible.”