Controlling laboratory binging among restrained eaters through self-monitoring and cognitive restructuring procedures

In a laboratory analog procedure, this study evaluated the therapeutic effectiveness of self-monitoring and cognitive restructuring procedures on binge eating among restrained eaters. Sixty-two undergraduate women were identified as either restrained or unrestrained eaters by the Restrained Eating Questionnaire. The restrained subjects were randomly assigned to either the restrained control (RC), self-monitoring (SM), or cognitive restructuring (CR) conditions while the 14 unrestrained subjects formed the unrestrained control condition (UC). Subjects listened to either a five-minute SM, CR, or control audiotape. consumed a 350-calorie milkshake, then tasted two eight-ounce servings of ice cream. The UC group consumed significantly fewer grams of ice cream than the RC group. These results suggest that cognitive restructuring procedures may be more effective than self-monitoring in reducing the magnitude of binge. Implications for therapeutic intervention are discussed.