T. Tuomisto et al., REASONS FOR INITIATION AND CESSATION OF EATING IN OBESE MEN AND WOMENAND THE AFFECTIVE CONSEQUENCES OF EATING IN EVERYDAY SITUATIONS, Appetite, 30(2), 1998, pp. 211-222
Reasons for the initiation and termination of eating were investigated
in 78 female and 36 male obese subjects following a weight control pr
ogramme. Self-monitoring diaries were completed during a 24-h period,
in which subjects selected the main reason for starting and stopping a
n eating episode. Additionally, subjects recorded mood before and afte
r eating using visual analogue scales. Hunger was chosen as a reason t
o start eating in only 20% of cases. Environmental cues such as mealti
me were selected as the main reason for the initiation of the majority
of eating episodes. In contrast, self-assessments such as ''I felt I
had eaten enough'' was the main reason for terminating eating (39.4%).
Gender differences in the reasons for initiating eating revealed a gr
eater tendency for men to initiate eating for environmental reasons th
an women, whereas the opposite was found for the termination of eating
, with women more likely to stop eating for environmental reasons than
men. Changes in affect during eating revealed a significant decline i
n negative emotions such as tension and tiredness. and in the heavier
subjects a trend for increased happiness was observed following eating
. As hunger was less commonly reported as a reason to start eating tha
n external reasons, treatment strategies for the obese might benefit b
y targeting individual reasons for meal initiation. (C) 1998 Academic
Press Limited.