title: Successful and unsuccessful restrained eating. Does dispositional self-control matter?
abstract: In a random sample (N=1078) from the general population, this study examined whether individual differences in dispositional self-control can explain restrained eaters' success in controlling their weight. A regression analysis with body mass index (BMI) as dependent variable revealed a significant negative association between dispositional self-control and BMI, and a significant positive association between dietary restraint and BMI. These effects were qualified by a significant interaction between restraint and self-control. Among restrained eaters, the association between self-control and BMI was significantly more negative than among normal eaters. Furthermore, among female restrained eaters higher dispositional self-control scores were associated with BMIs within the normal-weight range (BMI<25) and lower dispositional self-control scores were associated with BMIs within the overweight range (BMI>25). Among male restrained eaters very high scores on dispositional self-control were associated with BMIs within the normal-weight range, whereas medium or low scores on self-control were associated with BMIs within the overweight range. Results suggest that high dispositional self-control facilitates successful restrained eating.
authors: ETH Zurich, Institute for Environmental Decisions (IED), Consumer Behavior, Universitätstrasse 22, CHN J75.2, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland. Electronic address: ckeller@ethz.ch.
authors: Carmen
authors: C
authors: Keller
authors: ETH Zurich, Institute for Environmental Decisions (IED), Consumer Behavior, Universitätstrasse 22, CHN J75.2, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Siegrist
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004435:Eating / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight / Q000523:psychology*; D010551:Personality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: BMI; Dietary restraint; Self-control; Weight control