The relationship between restraint and weight and weight-related behaviors among individuals in a community weight gain prevention trial.
OBJECTIVE
The present study evaluated the cross-section and prospective associations between the Eating Inventory's (EI) total, flexible and rigid dietary restraint scales and changes in weight and behaviors in a community sample of adults enrolled in a 3 y weight gain prevention study.


METHODS
Subjects were participants in the Pound of Prevention (POP) study, a community-based weight gain prevention trial.


RESULTS
Higher levels of baseline total, flexible and rigid dietary restraint were related to lower weight and more weight-controlling behaviors at the baseline assessment. Baseline restraint measures positively predicted increases in weighing frequency over the 3 y follow-up. Increases in restraint over the follow-up period were related to decreases in weight, energy intake and television watching, and increases in self-weighing and physical activity.


CONCLUSIONS
The EI's total, flexible and rigid restraint scales were not differently associated with weight and behaviors in this heterogeneous sample of adults who were attempting to lose weight. Developing methods to increase behavioral and cognitive strategies to control weight may help to prevent weight gain in clinical and community samples.
McGuire
M T
MT
University of Minnesota, School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology, Minneapolis, Minnesta 55454, USA. mcguire@epi.umn.edu
Jeffery
R W
RW
French
S A
SA
Hannan
P J
PJ
D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015430:Weight Gain