The effects on eating of dietary restraint, anxiety, and hunger

In this study a comparison was made between the amounts eaten by restrained and unrestrained eaters following an anxiety-induction procedure. Subjects' level of perceived hunger was assessed and the interactive effects on eating of anxiety and perceived hunger were examined. Results revealed a significant three-way interaction. Unrestrained subjects did not alter their eating in response to either anxiety or hunger. When relaxed, restrained subjects ate more when hungry than when not hungry. However, in restrained subjects, anxiety appeared to counteract the disinhibiting effect of hunger, so that anxious hungry subjects ate less than relaxed hungry subjects and the same amount as relaxed subjects who were not hungry.