FAILURES

• EXPLANATIONS OF FAILURE OF DIETS?

  • restraint theory
  • boundary model
  • biological explanation
  • ironic processes theory
• RESTRAINT THEORY?

  • people on diet restrict food intake (restrained eaters)
  • set targets to eat smaller amounts
  • don't ever eat until full
  • preoccupied with thoughts about food
  • increases biological drive to eat
  • more likely to break rules set upon themselves
  • overeat
• BOUNDARY MODEL?

  • higher biological satiety boundary
  • due to small amounts of food they eat
  • before satiety boundary is cognitive boundary in dieters
  • diet boundary: when they want to stop eating
  • if they eat more than diet boundary: 'what the hell' effect
• EVALUATION OF RESTRAINT THEORY AND BOUNDARY MODEL?

  + Wardle and Beales

  • restrained eaters ate more than non-restrained eaters when offered snacks
• BIOLOGICAL EXPLANATION?

  • when dieting, body produces more ghrelin
  • increases physical desire to eat
  • higher hunger levels
  • motivated to break diet and eat
• EVALUATION OF BIOLOGICAL EXPLANATION?

  + Cummings et al

  • 24% increase in ghrelin
  • in individuals on a low calorie diet
• IRONIC PROCESSES THEORY?

  • Wegner et al
  • asked participants to think/ not think about white bear
  • ring bell if they thought about it
  • those told not to think about it rung the bell more
  • dieters try to suppress thoughts of forbidden foods, leading them to think about it more