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Updated: Aug 7, 2026
07:07
Errors as a Means of Reducing Impulsive Food Choice
Published on: June 5, 2016
Overeating, reversal theory, and weight cycling
Western Journal of Nursing Research
|February 25, 1998
Summary
Weight cycling, often caused by dieting, is linked to emotional overeating triggered by stress. A new multidimensional approach using Reversal Theory is proposed to manage weight effectively.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Psychology
- Obesity Research
- Health Psychology
Background:
- The escalating obesity epidemic in America persists despite extensive interventions.
- Traditional, unidimensional dieting approaches have largely failed, leading to weight cycling.
- Weight cycling, characterized by repeated weight loss and regain, is a significant public health concern.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a multidimensional paradigm for addressing weight cycling.
- To explore the application of Reversal Theory in understanding emotional overeating.
- To investigate the role of tension stress as a trigger for overeating in women experiencing weight cycling.
Main Methods:
- A case example illustrating Reversal Theory's explanation of overeating due to high-tension stress.
- Presentation of results from two studies examining Reversal Theory states in overweight and normal-weight women during overeating and non-overeating episodes.
- Utilizing self-reported data to analyze psychological states associated with eating behaviors.
Main Results:
- Reversal Theory provides a framework for understanding overeating as a response to psychological tension.
- Distinct Reversal Theory states were observed in women during episodes of overeating versus resisting overeating.
- The findings support the link between emotional states and disordered eating patterns in weight cycling.
Conclusions:
- A multidimensional approach is necessary to effectively manage weight cycling.
- Emotional overeating behaviors, particularly those triggered by stress, must be integrated into weight management strategies.
- Reversal Theory offers valuable insights into the psychological underpinnings of weight cycling and overeating.
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