Jessica L Unick1, Shira I Dunsiger2, Tiffany Leblond1, Korina Hahn1, J Graham Thomas1, Ana M Abrantes3, Laura R Stroud2, Rena R Wing1. 1. Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center, The Miriam Hospital and Brown Medical School, Providence, RI. 2. Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI. 3. Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital and Brown University, Providence, RI.
Abstract
PURPOSE: This efficacy trial tests the hypothesis that exercise training favorably affects hedonic eating (i.e., overeating, stress-induced overeating, disinhibited eating, eating when tempted), in a sample of women who are overweight or obese. METHODS: Participants were inactive at baseline, self-identified as "stress eaters," and were randomized to 12 wk of moderate-intensity exercise training (EX; combination of supervised and objectively confirmed unsupervised sessions) or to a no-exercise control condition (CON). EX participants were given an exercise goal of 200 min·wk-1. No dietary instructions or weight control strategies were provided. Assessments occurred at baseline and 12 wk. Overeating episodes, stress-induced overeating, and dietary temptations were measured over 14 d at each assessment using ecological momentary assessment. Disinhibition and dietary restraint were assessed via a questionnaire. RESULTS: Forty-nine participants (age, 40.4 ± 10.8 yr; body mass index, 32.4 ± 4.1 kg·m-2) enrolled, and 39 completed this study. Adherence to the exercise intervention was high (99.4% of all prescribed exercise). At week 12, the proportion of eating episodes that were characterized as overeating episodes was lower in EX versus CON (21.98% in EX vs 26.62% in control; P = 0.001). Disinhibition decreased in EX but not in CON (P = 0.02) and was driven by internal factors. There was a trend such that CON was more likely to give into dietary temptations (P = 0.08). Stress-induced overeating was low and did not differ between conditions (P = 0.61). CONCLUSIONS: Exercise training reduced the likelihood of overeating and eating in response to internal cues in women who self-identified as stress eaters. This may be one pathway by which exercise affects body weight.
PURPOSE: This efficacy trial tests the hypothesis that exercise training favorably affects hedonic eating (i.e., overeating, stress-induced overeating, disinhibited eating, eating when tempted), in a sample of women who are overweight or obese. METHODS: Participants were inactive at baseline, self-identified as "stress eaters," and were randomized to 12 wk of moderate-intensity exercise training (EX; combination of supervised and objectively confirmed unsupervised sessions) or to a no-exercise control condition (CON). EX participants were given an exercise goal of 200 min·wk-1. No dietary instructions or weight control strategies were provided. Assessments occurred at baseline and 12 wk. Overeating episodes, stress-induced overeating, and dietary temptations were measured over 14 d at each assessment using ecological momentary assessment. Disinhibition and dietary restraint were assessed via a questionnaire. RESULTS: Forty-nine participants (age, 40.4 ± 10.8 yr; body mass index, 32.4 ± 4.1 kg·m-2) enrolled, and 39 completed this study. Adherence to the exercise intervention was high (99.4% of all prescribed exercise). At week 12, the proportion of eating episodes that were characterized as overeating episodes was lower in EX versus CON (21.98% in EX vs 26.62% in control; P = 0.001). Disinhibition decreased in EX but not in CON (P = 0.02) and was driven by internal factors. There was a trend such that CON was more likely to give into dietary temptations (P = 0.08). Stress-induced overeating was low and did not differ between conditions (P = 0.61). CONCLUSIONS: Exercise training reduced the likelihood of overeating and eating in response to internal cues in women who self-identified as stress eaters. This may be one pathway by which exercise affects body weight.
Authors: John M Jakicic; Marsha Marcus; Kara I Gallagher; Colby Randall; Erin Thomas; Fredric L Goss; Robert J Robertson Journal: Med Sci Sports Exerc Date: 2004-05 Impact factor: 5.411