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A longitudinal evaluation of dietary restraint and its relationship to changes in body weight
R C Klesges1, M L Klem, C C Epkins
1Department of Psychology, Memphis State University, TN 38152.
Abstract:
The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the impact of changes in dietary restraint (chronic dieting) on changes in body weight over time. Subjects were 305 (98 male, 207 female) adults. At pretest, subjects completed a restrained eating questionnaire (Herman & Polivy, 1980), as well as reporting height, weight, gender, race, and age. Subjects were recontacted 2 1/2 years later and were reassessed on these same variables. Results indicated that restrained eating scores showed a high degree of consistency over a 2-1/2-year period (intraclass correlation = .74). Over time, males gained more weight than females and normal-weight subjects gained more weight over time than overweight subjects. No relationship was found between dietary restraint and weight gain over time. The potential interactions between energy balance and body weight are discussed.