Intrasexual competition predicts willingness to engage in risky weight loss behaviors: sex differences and similarities.

Intrasexual Competitiveness has been theorized to be related to the development of anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN) in women. A university sample was used to test the relationship between gender and intrasexual competition (ISC) on the willingness to engage in risky weight-loss behaviors symptomatic of AN or BN. A gender-neutral scale of intrasexual competition was created, allowing for a direct comparison of male and female respondents. The results revealed that greater intrasexual competitiveness in women (but not men) was related to an increased self-reported willingness to engage in risky dieting behaviors (e.g., going on a crash diet, fasting, and taking diet pills). Women and individuals higher in ISC expressed a greater willingness to vomit and/or use laxatives. These findings support the notion that ISC may in part contribute to the development of AN and BN in women.