title: Restrained eating and self-esteem in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There has been limited research about disordered eating in middle-aged women, and to date, few data exist about restrained eating behavior in postmenopausal women. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine eating behavior with a specific focus on menopause as an associated factor in restrained eating. Beyond this, we were interested in how postmenopausal status and self-esteem would interact to determine eating patterns in women in middle age.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted an online survey in women aged between 40 and 66. Eating behavior was assessed with the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q) in premenopausal (N = 318) and postmenopausal women (N = 250). All participants rated their self-esteem using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE) and reported their weight, height, waist circumference, and hip circumference.
  
  
  RESULTS
  15.7% of all participants showed clinically meaningful scores on restrained eating. Postmenopausal women showed significantly higher scores on the EDE-Q subscale of restrained eating as compared to premenopausal women, but when controlling for body mass index, however, this finding was no longer significant. Further exploratory analyses suggest that particularly low or high self-esteem levels are associated with restrained eating. Self-esteem might serve as a mediator between menopausal status and restrained eating, however results of these additional analyses were inconsistent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Restrained eating may appear in middle-aged women. Particularly in postmenopausal women, restrained eating might be associated with lower and higher self-esteem.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Division of Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Binzmuehlestrasse 14/26, Zurich, 8050 Switzerland.
authors.forename: Suzana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Drobnjak
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Division of Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Binzmuehlestrasse 14/26, Zurich, 8050 Switzerland.
authors.forename: Semra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Atsiz
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Division of Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Binzmuehlestrasse 14/26, Zurich, 8050 Switzerland ; Institute of Medical Psychology in the Center for Psychosocial Medicine, University Hospital Heidelberg, Bergheimer Str. 20, Heidelberg, 69115 Germany.
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ditzen
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Division of Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, Albert-Ludwigs University, Engelbergerstrasse 41, Freiburg, 79106 Germany.
authors.forename: Brunna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tuschen-Caffier
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Division of Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy, University of Zurich, Binzmuehlestrasse 14/26, Zurich, 8050 Switzerland.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Ehlert
keywords: Eating behavior; Menopause; Middle age; Restrained eating; Self-esteem