146 Dieting
overeating, with some measures specifically selecting a population of dieters
with a tendency to overeat. Researchers have also explored the nature of
dieting itself. One perspective has been to categorize individuals into successful
or unsuccessful dieters. From this analysis, restraint theory would hold true
only for those categorized as unsuccessful, with the successful dieters not
showing overeating behavior. Another perspective has been to categorize
by behavior into successful and unsuccessful dieting. From this analysis,
restraint theory would hold true for all dieters some of the time. To date,
which of these perspectives is most accurate remains unclear. It is probable,
however, that given the research illustrating the links between restraint and
overeating and between restraint and undereating, both analyses are valu-
able. In line with this, there may be some dieters who are successful all of
the time and some who are not. But there may also be many who fluctu-
ate between success and failure. Therefore, dieting can be seen as causing
overeating in the majority of dieters some of the time, while the minority
see their attempts at eating less more consistently fulfilled.
Conclusion
Many men and women are dissatisfied with their body size and shape. Men
tend to take up exercise, but for women body dissatisfaction translates into
dieting. The translation of body dissatisfaction into dieting is facilitated by
the dieting industry, which perpetuates the belief that thinness is the
desired state. Further, the dieting industry encourages the belief that body
size and shape can be changed, and then offers dieting as the means through
which to change it. However, although dieting aims to reduce food intake
and cause subsequent weight loss, much research indicates that dieting causes
episodes of overeating. This research has been inspired by restraint theory
and has highlighted disinhibitory behavior as a consequence of attempts
to impose cognitive limits on food intake. Explanations of disinhibition
include the boundary model of overeating, which emphasizes the dieters’
cognitive limits, changes in both cognition and mood, a paradoxical response
to denial, and escape theory, which highlights the role of self-awareness.
Research has also drawn parallels between eating behavior and addictive
behaviors. Overeating is not the only consequence of dieting; attempted
and actual food restriction can also lead to a preoccupation with food,
lowered mood, and feelings of being out of control. Dieting has also been
implicated in weight changes in terms of weight variability, eating disorders,