Dieting, restraint, and disinhibition predict women's weight change over 6 y.
BACKGROUND
Although disinhibited eating is positively associated with higher weight in women, it is not known whether restrained eating and dieting moderate the influence of disinhibited eating on weight change.


OBJECTIVE
The objective was to investigate over 6 y the interactive effects of restrained and disinhibited eating and self-reported dieting to lose weight as predictors of weight gain in women.


METHODS
Data were collected from non-Hispanic white women (n = 163) every 2 y. Height and weight were measured in triplicate. Dietary restraint and disinhibition were assessed by using the Eating Inventory. Participants were also asked if they were "currently dieting to lose weight." Multilevel modeling was used to examine change in weight as a function of time-invariant and time-varying predictors, including dietary restraint, dietary disinhibition, and self-reported dieting.


RESULTS
After covariates were adjusted for, growth curve models showed that within-person increases in restraint over time were associated with concurrent decreases in weight and that higher levels of restraint moderated the positive association between dietary disinhibition and weight. Women who reported dieting at study entry were heavier at study entry and gained more weight over time than did nondieters. Finally, a significant interaction between restraint, disinhibition, and dieting showed that restraint moderated the effect of disinhibition on weight differently in nondieters than in dieters.


CONCLUSIONS
Increasing levels of dietary restraint may be beneficial in moderating weight by attenuating the positive association between disinhibition and weight in dieting women. An understanding of weight and weight change requires examination of the interactive effects of restraint, disinhibition, and dieting.
Savage
Jennifer S
JS
Center for Childhood Obesity Research, Department of Nutritional Sciences and Human Development and Family Studies, the Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
Hoffman
Lesa
L
Birch
Leann L
LL
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D004651:Employment; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005544:Forecasting; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D015430:Weight Gain; D015431:Weight Loss; D055815:Young Adult