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Dieting and weight loss
Page 162 Black blue 162 HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY I Cognitive state: items were included to examine two types of cognitive state, which were hypothesized to trigger overeating. These were a ‘passive cognitive state’ (e.g. submit, quit, abandon) representing ‘giving in to the overpowering drive to eat’ and an ‘active cognitive state’ (e.g. rebellious, defiant, challenge) representing overeating as an active decision to rebel against self-imposed restraint. 2 Rating scales. The subjects also completed the following set of rating scales: I Motivational state: the subjects completed ratings of their hunger and fullness using visual analogue scales (‘not at all hungry/full’ to ‘as hungry/full as I’ve ever been’). I Mood: anxiety and depression were measured using the Profile of Mood State checklist (McNair et al. 1971). I Cognitive state: The active and passive cognitive states were measured using a checklist of relevant items. Results The results for the Stroop tasks were analysed by creating a pure reaction time (experimental words – matched control words) and then by assessing the effect of condition (low preload versus high preload) on the change in the reaction time from before the preload to after the preload. The results showed that the dieters responded to the highcalorie preload with increases in ‘rebelliousness’, as measured by the active cognitive state Stroop, increases in preoccupation with body shape and increases in the preoccupation food, as indicated by retarded reaction times on these tasks compared with the non-dieters, and the dieters responses to the low-calorie preload. The results also suggested that the dieters showed an increase in rebelliousness as measured by the rating scales. Conclusion The results suggest that overeating in dieters in response to preloading may be related to increased feelings of rebelliousness (‘what the hell, I’m going to eat whatever I want’), increased concern with body shape and increased preoccupation with food. These results indicate that diet-breaking behaviour shown by normal-weight dieters, the obese on weight-reduction programmes and bulimics may relate to an active decision to overeat and suggest that perhaps self-imposed limits (‘I’m going to eat less’) may activate a desire to rebel against these limits. Dieting and weight loss Dieting is therefore associated with periods of overeating. Research indicates that this is sometimes translated into weight fluctuations. Although dieters aim to lose weight by attempting to restrict their food intake, this aim is only sometimes achieved. Heatherton et al. (1991) reported that restrained eaters show both under- and overeating and that Page 162 Black blue