Treat or Enhance Cognitive Restraint in Individuals Suffering from Overweight or Obesity? Systematic Revue of the Literature

Abstract

Cognitive Restraint, a mind control over food intake in order to lose or maintain weight, leads to harmful consequences in individuals suffering from overweight or obesity. These consequences include an alteration of internal perceptions of hunger and satiety, a disinhibition, an emotional dysregulation and a decrease in selfesteem and body satisfaction. Nevertheless, the systematic review on the subject highlights a lack of consensus. In fact, many studies suggest that flexible control, or even an increase in self-control could be efficient to lose weight and improve an individual's psychological factors. After presenting each point of view and its arguments as well as the internal validity of studies, we will discuss promising future research perspectives.