Restrained eating behavior and obesity

Abstract

Obesity is a widespread disease in the world, responsible for serious organic and psychosocial repercussions, from infancy to adulthood. Eating behavior has biological as well as social bases. Associated to obesity, it becomes an even more complex process, since it is accompanied by psychological aspects showing symptoms such as depressive moods, anxiety, feelings of guilt, and physiological mechanisms as, for instance, the resistance to fast during restrictive diets. Obese individuals prevalently present behaviors such as binge or restrained eating, both leading to failure in the treatment of obesity. Restrained eating refers to the tendency to restrict food intake consciously, in order to prevent weight gain or to promote weight loss, which may be associated to episodes of overeating and have psychological consequences as, for example, the loss of self-steam, mood distress and distraction. The results of this review suggest that weight control programs should focus on the bases of eating behaviors, and, effectively, develop interdisciplinary courses of action in order to obtain positive results in the treatment of obesity.