Overeating, reversal theory, and weight cycling

America's overweight problem is universally recognized and escalating, despite billions of dollars spent to combat it. For the past century, a unidimensional paradigm was predominantly used to correct the overweight problem by reducing calories through dieting. As a result of the profound failure of traditional diet programs, a phenomenon known as weight cycling was born. In this article, a multidimensional paradigm is emphasized to address weight cycling. Reversal theory extends a new theoretical basis that can account for unpleasant feelings, or tension stress, as a trigger of overeating in women who weight cycle. A case example demonstrates how reversal theory explains overeating as a response to high-tension stress. Results of two studies are presented, describing overweight and normal-weight women's reversal theory states during self-reported episodes of overeating and resisting overeating. The multidimensional paradigm calls for emotional overeating behaviors to be addressed in weight management.