Effects of exposure to thin and overweight peers: Evidence of social comparison in restrained and unrestrained eaters

The impact of social comparisons of body weight on self-perceptions has been investigated in previous research; however, previous studies have focused on the effects of exposure to idealized media images. The current study tested the hypothesis that upon exposure to information about a peer's weight, restrained eaters (but not unrestrained eaters) use this information to determine their own relative standing. Seventy female undergraduates participated in this study under the impression that it was a study of person memory. Participants read about a female peer described as either average weight, overweight, or thin. Participants then rated their self-perceptions, after which their food intake was surreptitiously measured. Restrained eaters exposed to the description of the thin peer experienced more negative self-perceptions; there were no significant effects of exposure to the overweight peer. For unrestrained eaters, there was no effect of exposure to the thin peer but evidence of self enhancement following exposure to the overweight peer. Social comparisons to peers may contribute to the worsening of body satisfaction and self-esteem in restrained eaters.