Differences in food-choice frequencies between restrained and unrestrained eaters

Reported frequency of consumption for certain food items was studied in young normal-weight women, classified into 19 unrestrained and 20 restrained eaters by the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire of Stunkard & Messick (1985). Neither group differed in the consumption of basic foods and snacks but restrained eaters showed a strong tendency to avoid fat. A large percentage of this group was used to consuming artificial sweeteners and other calorie-reduced foodstuffs. These qualitative alterations in the everyday eating behavior of restrained eaters may be one of the links between dietary restraint and binge eating.