Stice (1994, 2001) proposed a sociocultural model (the dual
pathway model) to explain the development of bulimic behaviors
such as compulsive overeating resulting from body dissatisfaction.
Stice suggested that patients who suffer from bulimia nervosa or
binge eating disorder are characterized by high levels of body dissatisfaction
that indirectly influence compulsive overeating via
two pathways. Body dissatisfaction results in restrained eating,
which creates a risk for overeating according to the restraint eating
theory (see Herman & Polivy, 1980). Body dissatisfaction also generates
negative emotions that may lead to compulsive overeating
as emotion regulation strategy.