Dietary restraint in normal weight and overweight children. A cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the degree to which actual fatness and n egative self-esteem might be linked to dietary restraint in childhood. METHOD: Subjects were 426 boys and 319 girls, aged 10.6y (+/-1y). Forty-nin e children were overweight (> 30%) and 149 subjects were in the category 'm oderately overweight' (10-30% overweight). Measures of self-esteem and diet ary restraint were used in the analyses. RESULTS: Dietary restraint was observable in all weight groups and signific antly more in girls. Boys and girls with an existing fatness problem showed more dietary restraint. Weight status, not self-esteem, turned out to be t he best predictor of dietary restraint. DISCUSSION: Because there were good reasons to expect side-effects of the o bserved dietary restraint in obese children in the long term, valuable alte rnatives like changes in the life-style and interventions that enhance body image and self-esteem were recommended.