Related Experiment Videos
Dietary helplessness and disinhibition in weight cyclers and maintainers
T P Carmody1, R L Brunner, S T St Jeor
1Health Psychology Program, VA Medical Center, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA.
Objective:
The primary purpose of this study was to compare obese versus nonobese adults and weight cyclers versus maintainers on measures of dietary helplessness, nutrition concern, dietary restraint, and disinhibition.
Method:
Dietary helplessness, nutrition concern, dietary restraint, and disinhibition were assessed in 385 healthy obese and nonobese men and women in the RENO Diet-Heart Study, a 5-year prospective investigation of cardiovascular risk factors, weight cycling, and lifestyle.
Results:
The results indicated that dietary helplessness and disinhibition were significantly greater in obese individuals, subjects with a history of weight cycling, and weight fluctuators (prospectively measured). Women were found to score significantly higher than men on measures of dietary helplessness, disinhibition, and cognitive restraint.
Discussion:
The role of nutrition attitudes is discussed in relation to dietary self-regulation, weight fluctuation, and management of body weight.