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Weight Control Determined by Emotional Drivers

In the October 2007 issue of Obesity, a study by researchers at The Miriam Hospital's Weight Control & Diabetes Research Center found, when dieting, emotional eaters lost less weight and regained more than those eating in response to external factors, such as holidays and social situations.

Researchers approached this study by examining answers from the Eating Inventory questionnaire which assesses three areas of individual eating behaviors -- hunger, cognitive restraint and disinhibition. While past studies have determined disinhibition accurately predicts weight loss, lead author Heather Niemeier, Ph.D., of The Miriam Hospital's Weight Control & Diabetes Research Center and The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, and her team worked to further isolate the various factors that might independently determine weight loss results.

By looking closely at the disinhibition scale which evaluates impulse eating inspired by emotional, cognitive or social eating cues, the team studied how these cues are related to weight loss and regain. Researchers then compared the effect disinhibition has on individuals in the process of losing weight to individuals trying to maintain weight loss by assessing two groups -- first, a group of 289 overweight male and female behavioral weight loss program participants and, second, more than three thousand members of the National Weight Control Registry (NWCR), an ongoing study of adults who have lost and kept off a minimum of 30 pounds for at least one year.

Through their analysis, researchers found these emotional, cognitive and social eating cues could be categorized into either internal or external disinhibition. External disinhibition commonly influences impulsive eating in social situations; whereas, internal disinhibition influences impulsive eating through thoughts and emotions. According to findings from both study sample groups, internal disinhibition was a "significant predictor" of weight loss or weight gain, suggesting more attention be paid to the emotional and cognitive triggers behind eating impulsivity.

"Modifying our treatments to address these triggers for unhealthy eating and help patients learn alternative strategies could improve their ability to maintain weight loss behaviors, even in the face of affective and cognitive difficulties," said Neimeier.

Article: Emotional eaters susceptible to weight regain