Restrictive dieting vs. "undieting" - Effects on eating regulation in obese clinic attenders

This study tested predictions from restraint theory [Herman & Polivy (1984) . A boundary model for the regulation of eating. In: A. J. Stunkard, & E. S tellar (Eds.), Eating and its disorders (pp. 141-156) New York: Raven Press .] and the three-factor model of dieting [Psychol. Bull. 114 (1993) 100.] u sing an eating regulation paradigm. Participants were 42 obese, nonbinge ea ters assigned to either a weight loss group (restrictive dieters or RDs) or a group designed to eliminate dieting ("undieters" or UDs). Participants t ook part in an ostensible ice cream taste test with or without a preload, b oth before and after the weight control intervention. At pretest, restraint theory's prediction that participants would engage in counter-regulatory e ating was not supported. At posttest, after 8 weeks of the dieting interven tions, RDs increased and UDs decreased their intake following a preload, a pattern most consistent with the predictions of restraint theory. This coun ter-regulatory trend was observed in spite of a significant decrease in RDs ' Disinhibition scale scores following treatment. Implications of these fin dings for restraint theory, the three-factor model of dieting, and relapse in obesity treatment were discussed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. Al righ ts reserved.