OBJECTIVES: Examine the association between components of restrained eating, cognitive performance and weight loss maintenance. METHODS: 106 women, all members of a commercial slimming organisation for at least 6 months (mean±SD: 15.7±12.4 months), were studied who, having lost 10.1±9.7 kg of their initial weight, were hoping to sustain their weight loss during the 6 month study. Dietary restraint subcomponents flexible and rigid restraint, as well as preoccupying cognitions with food, body-shape and diet were assessed using questionnaires. Attentional bias to food and shape-related stimuli was measured using a modified Stroop test. Working memory performance was assessed using the N-back test. These factors, and participant weight, were measured twice at 6 month intervals. RESULTS: Rigid restraint was associated with attentional bias to food and shape-related stimuli (r=0.43, p<0.001 resp. r=0.49, p<0.001) whereas flexible restraint correlated with impaired working memory (r=-0.25, p<0.05). In a multiple regression analyses, flexible restraint was associated with more weight lost and better weight loss maintenance, while rigid restraint was associated with less weight loss. CONCLUSIONS: Rigid restraint correlates with a range of preoccupying cognitions and attentional bias to food and shape-related stimuli. Flexible restraint, despite the impaired working memory performance, predicts better long-term weight loss. Explicitly encouraging flexible restraint may be important in preventing and treating obesity.
OBJECTIVES: Examine the association between components of restrained eating, cognitive performance and weight loss maintenance. METHODS: 106 women, all members of a commercial slimming organisation for at least 6 months (mean±SD: 15.7±12.4 months), were studied who, having lost 10.1±9.7 kg of their initial weight, were hoping to sustain their weight loss during the 6 month study. Dietary restraint subcomponents flexible and rigid restraint, as well as preoccupying cognitions with food, body-shape and diet were assessed using questionnaires. Attentional bias to food and shape-related stimuli was measured using a modified Stroop test. Working memory performance was assessed using the N-back test. These factors, and participant weight, were measured twice at 6 month intervals. RESULTS: Rigid restraint was associated with attentional bias to food and shape-related stimuli (r=0.43, p<0.001 resp. r=0.49, p<0.001) whereas flexible restraint correlated with impaired working memory (r=-0.25, p<0.05). In a multiple regression analyses, flexible restraint was associated with more weight lost and better weight loss maintenance, while rigid restraint was associated with less weight loss. CONCLUSIONS: Rigid restraint correlates with a range of preoccupying cognitions and attentional bias to food and shape-related stimuli. Flexible restraint, despite the impaired working memory performance, predicts better long-term weight loss. Explicitly encouraging flexible restraint may be important in preventing and treating obesity.
Authors: Kathryn E Smith; Tyler B Mason; Ross D Crosby; Scott G Engel; Scott J Crow; Stephen A Wonderlich; Carol B Peterson Journal: Appetite Date: 2017-09-21 Impact factor: 3.868
Authors: Meghan M JaKa; Nancy E Sherwood; Shirley W Flatt; Carly R Pacanowski; Bilgé Pakiz; Cynthia A Thomson; Cheryl L Rock Journal: J Obes Weight Loss Ther Date: 2015-03-30