Dietary helplessness and disinhibition in weight cyclers and maintainers.
OBJECTIVE
The primary purpose of this study was to compare obese versus nonobese adults and weight cyclers versus maintainers on measures of dietary helplessness, nutrition concern, dietary restraint, and disinhibition.


METHODS
Dietary helplessness, nutrition concern, dietary restraint, and disinhibition were assessed in 385 healthy obese and nonobese men and women in the RENO Diet-Heart Study, a 5-year prospective investigation of cardiovascular risk factors, weight cycling, and lifestyle.


RESULTS
The results indicated that dietary helplessness and disinhibition were significantly greater in obese individuals, subjects with a history of weight cycling, and weight fluctuators (prospectively measured). Women were found to score significantly higher than men on measures of dietary helplessness, disinhibition, and cognitive restraint.


CONCLUSIONS
The role of nutrition attitudes is discussed in relation to dietary self-regulation, weight fluctuation, and management of body weight.
Carmody
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Health Psychology Program, VA Medical Center, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA.
Brunner
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St Jeor
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D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001835:Body Weight; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000523:psychology; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006380:Helplessness, Learned; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012737:Sex Factors