The Role of Appearance-Based and Interpersonal Rejection Sensitivity in Youth Loss of Control Eating: A One-Year Longitudinal Study

A significant number of youths experience loss of control eating (LOC), characterized by a sense of losing control over eating, regardless of food amount. Binge eating, a common LOC variant, involves consuming large amounts of food in a short period, often accompanied by distress. Previous research suggests that interpersonal and appearance-based rejection sensitivity (RS), the tendency to anxiously expect, readily perceive, and overreact to rejection, may contribute to the development and persistence of LOC variants. This study examined whether baseline levels of interpersonal and appearance-based RS are associated with LOC variants one year later in a youth sample aged 14-24 and enriched for LOC and binge eating by virtue of recruitment strategies. Zero-inflated negative binomial regression models indicate that both interpersonal and appearance-based RS were associated with the occurrence of self-reported monthly binge eating episodes one year later, but not with the frequency of binge eating episodes. The findings highlight RS as a potential influencing factor for the development and maintenance of LOC variants, even in the absence of severe body dissatisfaction or mood disturbances. Early interventions targeting emotional responses to perceived rejection, particularly appearance-related, may help prevent or reduce LOC behaviors during adolescence and emerging adulthood.