Psychological effects of dieting.

Seven men and seven women, all of normal weight, were assessed by means of daily visual analogue scales for a two-week baseline period and for two weeks during which they were placed on a calorie-restricted diet. There were no significant changes in mood and no sex differences. Compared with the baseline, during the diet there were significant changes in their cognitions concerning eating: subjects were more preoccupied with thoughts about food, had strong urges to eat more frequently and were more likely to feel out of control of their eating.