Dieting, Restraint and disinhibition

Question 1

What are some consequences of unhealthy diets?

Answer 1

• Coronary heart disease
• Diabetes Mellitus (Type II)
• Atherosclerosis
• Thrombosis
• Myocardial infarction

Unhealthy diets can lead to serious health conditions, including heart disease and diabetes.

Question 2

What are the types of cholesterol and their functions?

Answer 2

• High-density lipoproteins (HDLs) - good cholesterol
• Low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) - bad cholesterol

HDLs help carry LDLs away from artery walls, preventing plaque buildup.

Question 3

What is energy balance?

Answer 3

The relationship between calories consumed and calories expended

Energy balance is crucial for maintaining, losing, or gaining weight.

Question 4

What are common motives for weight loss according to O’Brien et al. (2007)?

Answer 4

• Appearance
• Health
• Mood

These motives can significantly impact the success of dietary interventions.

Question 5

According to Griffiths et al. (2022), when do people commonly diet?

Answer 5

In spring to prepare for summer

The study suggested a seasonal pattern in dieting behavior.

Question 6

Define body dissatisfaction.

Answer 6

A discrepancy between perceived body size and ideal body size; feelings of discontent with shape and size

Body dissatisfaction can lead to negative psychological effects and is often linked to dieting behaviors.

Question 7

What is the set point theory?

Answer 7

Genetics play an important role in determining weight; the body ‘defends’ a certain weight range (Harris 1990)

This theory suggests that significant weight loss may be challenging due to biological factors.

Question 8

What are some types of specialized diets?

Answer 8

• Food combining (e.g., Hay Diet)
• Blood type diet
• Single food diets (e.g., cabbage soup, grapefruit)

Specialized diets often lack scientific backing and may cater to specific beliefs about food.

Question 9

True or False: Dieting is associated with a higher body weight in the long term.

Answer 9

True

Systematic reviews indicate that dieting can lead to metabolic adaptations favoring weight regain. (Pelissier., 2023)

Question 10

What is restraint in dieting?

Answer 10

The deliberate attempt to inhibit food intake to maintain weight or prevent weight gain

Restraint can have psychological and physical impacts on individuals.

Question 11

What does disinhibition refer to in the context of dieting?

Answer 11

Induction of over-eating among restrained eaters; inability to maintain cognitive control of intake

Disinhibition can undermine dieting efforts and lead to overeating.

Question 12

What is the Boundary Model proposed by Herman & Polivy (1984)?

Answer 12

Eat to satiety, but satiety is further away for restrained eaters, leading to increased consumption

This model explains how restrained eaters may overeat due to perceived differences in satiety.

Question 13

What factors affect disinhibition in restrained eaters?

Answer 13

• Perceived caloric content
• Food cues
• Negative affect

These factors can trigger overeating in individuals who are normally restrained.

Question 14

What is external eating?

Answer 14

Inability to resist environmental cues (sight, smell) that initiate eating

External eating is linked to obesity and can lead to poor dietary choices.

Question 15

What measures can be used to assess dietary restraint?

Answer 15

• Revised Restraint Scale
• Three Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ)
• Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (DEBQ) (Strien et al., 1986)

These assessments help identify tendencies in eating behavior and restraint.

Question 16

What is the Abstinence Violation Effect?

Answer 16

Negative cognitive and emotional responses when returning to a substance after a period of abstinence

This effect is particularly relevant in the context of dieting and can impact success.

Question 17

What does Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) involve?

Answer 17

Repeated sampling of an individual’s behaviors in their natural environment
Randle et al. (2023): EMA captures real time data on behaviours, revealing tht coping strategies reduce dietary lapses.

EMA helps identify real-time thoughts and feelings related to eating behaviors.

Question 18

What is the Limited Cognitive Capacity Hypothesis?

Answer 18

Disinhibited intake occurs in restrained eaters if there are limitations on their cognitive capacity

Boon et al., (2002)

This hypothesis suggests that cognitive overload can lead to overeating in those who are typically restrained.

Question 19

What is one potential outcome of distraction during eating?

Answer 19

Increased intake after distracted food consumption

Paying attention to food can help reduce intake and enhance memory of consumed food.

Question 20

Stice and Shaw (2002)

Answer 20

Perceived pressure to be thin, thin ideal internalisation and elevated body mass linked to body disatisfaction.

Dieting and negative affect are mediating variables for eating pathology

Question 21

Pelisssier et al. (2023)

Answer 21

80% of studies found that dieters have a higher body weight than non-dieters.
75% reported metabolic adaotations in response to weight loss that favoured weight regain

Dieting often leads to weight gain

Question 22

Which pre-load study found that “low retrained eaters showed compensatory regulation in a taste test, and high restrained eaters over consumed following consumption of calorie dense pre-load.”?

Answer 22

Herman and Mack (1975)

Counter regulation

Question 22

Who devised the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire to measure restraint?

Answer 22

Van Strien et al., (1986)

Question 22

According to Green and Rogers (1998), what was the effects on cognitive performance for restrained eaters?

Answer 22

Showed deficits in tasks involving memory and planning due to pre-occupations with food.