The studies in this thesis aimed to develop and characterise a rodent model of meal feeding that would mimic aspects of human eating behaviour, leading to the overconsumption of calories and ultimately to obesity. In seeking to identify potential mechanisms that might be involved in the initiation of meals, a palatable scheduled feeding regime was utilised to induce a substantial food intake over short periods of time in rodents. This was done by providing scheduled access to a palatable diet for a 2h-period each day without imposed caloric restriction during the remainder of the day. Initially, the effects of different palatable diets were examined. Three of the four palatable diets resulted in a rapid adaptation of feeding behaviour and induced the consumption of large, binge-type meals in both Sprague Dawley rats and C57BL/6 mice. Candidate gene expression analysis by in-situ hybridisation during the two hour period leading up to scheduled feeding suggested that homeostatic neuropeptide systems in the hypothalamus did not have a major role in driving the consumption of these meals. Further characterisation of the scheduled feeding model revealed that palatable scheduled feeding does not lead to a relative hypophagic phase or an increase in pre-meal secreted gut hormones in anticipation of the scheduled meals. Interestingly, schedule-fed animals exhibited food anticipatory activity during the same period. In addition, scheduled-fed animals displayed only a mild obese phenotype but their metabolic health was adversely affected. Again using in-situ hybridisation, candidate gene expression was assessed during the scheduled feeding period itself, revealing a relationship with adiposity level but not with immediate feeding behaviour. Finally, in a ‘hypothesis-free' approach, gene expression was analysed by microarray at the point of initiation of scheduled feeding, with no apparent changes in gene expression levels. In conclusion, palatable scheduled feeding in mice and rats induces large, binge-type meals that appear not to be directly regulated by homeostatic neuropeptides in the hypothalamus. Investigations into forebrain candidate gene expression by in-situ hybridisation suggested that measuring mRNA levels might not be the optimal analytical approach to demonstrate an involvement of the reward-related signalling system. Alternative strategies for identifying meal feeding mechanisms in the palatable scheduled feeding model could focus on approaches such as neurotransmitter release.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Rhode Island, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 107-124).

Thesis (M.A.) -- Central Connecticut State University, 2005. / Thesis advisor: James Conway. "... in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Psychology." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 35-49). Also available via the World Wide Web.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Drexel University, 2007. / Includes abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 71-78).

Thesis (M.A.)--York University, 2006. Graduate Programme in Kinesiology and Health Science. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 86-115). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:MR29602

Thesis (PhD) - Faculty of Life and Social Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, 2006. / Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Professional Doctorate of Psychology (Health Physiology), Faculty of Life and Social Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology - 2006. Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (p. 144-164).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2008. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

There is increasing evidence that aspects of human eating may be 'addictive'. Much of the existing literature examining this focuses on specific foods or individual pathologies of 'addiction'. Qualitative research methods, in particular content analysis, offers a rich opportunity to better understand 'addictive' aspects of human eating through the stories shared by those who have experienced compulsive eating. This research examines two different organizations that use storytelling as a tool for changing eating behaviours. Overeaters Anonymous (OA) and Weight Watchers (WW) began in the United States in the early 1960s as mutual support groups designed to help members with problems of compulsive overeating. This research examines: 1) the ways that OA and WW addressed 'addictions' with food when they were first formed; 2) how each organization has changed over time; and 3) the ways that identities are constructed through the telling of stories within each programme. For this thesis, I used historical analysis, in-person and online participant observation, and content analysis as research methods. I found that while OA and WW once similarly addressed 'addictions' with food, this is no longer the case. WW no longer understands their members as fundamentally different from others in the ways that they eat, and OA now welcomes members with a variety of different compulsive eating behaviours. However, similar themes regarding identity emerged from the OA and WW stories used in this research. OA and WW members describe that they acquire different belief systems regarding health and how to eat in each programme. In comparing these two organizations, how each has changed over time and the shifts in identity described by OA and WW members, this research identifies aspects of everyday living that members of both groups similarly highlight as important factors influencing compulsive eating. Based on these findings, I then assess to what extent a new framework for understanding 'addiction' may be needed, and conclude by suggesting further areas of research that would be suitable for constructing this.