A multiple factor study of body weight control.
A multiple factor approach toward body weight regulation was proposed which uses elements of self-perception theory to integrate seemingly unrelated or conflicting findings on the etiology of human obesity. Four factors--cue responsiveness, incidence of eating related to emotional distress, dietary restraint, and activity level--were hypothesized to influence the likelihood of obesity, with eating style being the most important variable. The existence of subgroups--normal weight and overweight individuals differing with respect to eating style, emotional-distress-related eating, dieting, and activity level--were proposed. In experimental tests on 90 Ss, predictions about the relationship of independent variables to obesity and the existence of subgroups of obese and normal weight individuals received support.
D000328:Adult; D001835:Body Weight; D003463:Cues; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology