Eating Behaviour 2
Discuss explanations for the success or failure of dieting
Restraint theory suggests dieting can result in eating less or successful weight loss. Restrained eating is an attempt by the dieter to reduce food intake. Research by Klesges suggests that 89% of women in the UK restrain their eating at some point in their lives. Several studies have found that this method can be successful as Glenny et al found that a calorie controlled diet could result in a substantial change in weight in the first few months. Kirkley et al found that restrained eaters consumed fewer calories than unrestrained eaters. These findings were based on an assessment of their eating style of 50 women by using dietary self-monitoring forms for 4 days.
Ogden and Hills interviewed people who had successfully lost weight and found 4 important factors in successful dieters. These people had a model of obesity that focused on behaviour as being central to their weight problem and they avoided a state of denial which would have involved wanting to eat but not doing so. Successful dieters also created a situation whereby food was no longer viewed as a reward and, perhaps most importantly, they created a new identity as a thinner person. These conclusions were based on interviews. It was found that much weight loss was triggered by key life events such as divorce or a significant birthday. The results supported previous research by Ogden which found weight loss maintainers endorsed a psychological model of obesity.
However this research can be criticised in terms of a key psychological issue as much research into dieting could be seen as being gender bias. This is because the research is largely focused on women, for example Kirkley’s study, but the conclusions relate to dieting in general and therefore are generalised to both males and females. This constitutes gender bias as findings on one gender are generalised to both genders. This is largely because the majority of people who take part in interventions to promote weight loss are female. However dieting for men is thought to be more beneficial. This is because men tend to carry excess weight on their abdomen which is linked to more health problems whereas women tend to carry their excess weight on their bottoms and thighs.
Restraint theory suggests unsuccessful dieting can result in overrating and weight gain. The theory is based on Herman and Mack’s research in which participants were either given a preload, one milkshake in one condition and two in another, on no preload. It was found that if restrained eaters were given a preload then they were subsequently more likely to eat more ice-cream than if they were not. It was concluded that restrained eaters had a cognitive dietary boundary for food intake. These research findings have been consistent as Wardle and Beales research also showed dieting to be unsuccessful as it can result in overeating. Wardle and Beales research found obese women who had been randomly assigned to a dieting group ate more than participants in an exercise group and those in a control group after a seven week period.
The boundary model explains why dieters have a
