Emotions surrounding restrained eating in young adult students

Abstract

Aims: A mixed-methods study focusing on experiences of restrained eating in young adult students, to develop our understanding of emotions surrounding dieting, diet violation and diet abandonment, thought to precede issues with weight management and disordered eating behaviours. Method: Using the participant selection model variant of the sequential explanatory mixed method design (Creswell, 2007), quantitative study 1 measured emotions, dietary restraint, perceived deprivation and self-control reported by students during a non-examination period, in comparison to emotions reported the week before exam(s). Results identified ‘restrained eaters’ according to the Revised Restraint Scale (Herman & Polivy, 1980), informing participant selection for qualitative study 2, using semi-structured interviews and Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Main findings: Study 1. There was a significant main effect of group (restrained/unrestrained eater) on Total Mood Disturbance. This supported previous findings that restrained eaters are more likely to experience unpleasant emotions than unrestrained eaters (Herman & Polivy, 2020). Study 2. Three superordinate themes emerged; “It is better to be ‘someone that isn’t overweight!”, “Happy about the diet plan” and “Danger Zone”. The early development of internalised weight bias appeared influential for motivations to diet and susceptibility to weight-normative narratives, which determined ‘successful’ dieting methods. Pleasant achievement emotions and perseverance were associated with dietary restraint, to overcome intrapsychic conflict in pursuit of specific goals. However, efforts to exercise self-control seemed to fluctuate according to emotional state and result in dietary violations, possibly due to ‘ego depletion’ referred to in the strength model of self-control (Baumeister, 2006). Subsequent counterregulatory eating and emotional eating, appeared to prompt further dietary restraint in response to unpleasant emotions of guilt, shame, and failure. Conclusions: Dietary restraint presents a repetitive pattern of conflicting emotional, cognitive, psychosocial, and behavioural processes that might precede disordered eating behaviours in young adults. Weight concerns and unmet emotional needs that emerge in childhood and adolescence might be risk factors for further investigation. Recommendations: A novel dual process model of emotions surrounding restrained eating in young adults is proposed as an early identification and therapeutic intervention tool for unhelpful intrapsychic conflict and eating behaviours. Weight-inclusive, and compassion-focussed approaches also appear suited to working with associated emotions of guilt and shame.