Dietary Restraint: Some Current Findings and Speculations

In this paper we review recent findings on the disinhibition of dietary restraint Disinhibition induced by preloading depends more upon the perception that the diet has been broken than on actual calorie content of the preload. Disinhibition can also result from emotional distress, with ego-threats more likely than physical fear to disinhibit eating. Low self-esteem dieters are more likely to become disinhibited than are high self-esteem dieters in response to both preloading and distress manipulations. Recent theoretical perspectives on disinhibition are examined and the possible role of self-awareness is highlighted.