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Males were given false feedback that they scored low, high, or no feedback (control group) on masculinity and given a “masculine” food (meat pizza), a “feminine” food (vegetarian pizza), or the choice between the two to eat. An interaction between masculinity condition and food condition was found when the “feminine” food condition and the Control group were removed, such that low-masculine participants given meat pizza ate a small amount, as did high-masculine participants given a choice. High-masculine participants given meat pizza ate a large amount of food as did low-masculine participants given a choice. In certain situations males want to appear masculine and therefore eat a larger amount of food, or want to appear attractive on other dimensions and therefore eat a smaller amount of food.

Males were given false feedback that they scored low, high, or no feedback (control group) on masculinity and given a “masculine” food (meat pizza), a “feminine” food (vegetarian pizza), or the choice between the two to eat. An interaction between masculinity condition and food condition was found when the “feminine” food condition and the Control group were removed, such that low-masculine participants given meat pizza ate a small amount, as did high-masculine participants given a choice. High-masculine participants given meat pizza ate a large amount of food as did low-masculine participants given a choice. In certain situations males want to appear masculine and therefore eat a larger amount of food, or want to appear attractive on other dimensions and therefore eat a smaller amount of food.

No description available.

No description available.

Restraint theory was originally developed to explain differences in eating behaviour between normal-weight and obese individuals. It represented a development from explanations based on obesity per se, and instead proposed the activity of dieting as the causal predictor of eating behaviour. Research has demonstrated that highly restrained individuals are more likely than unrestrained individuals to overeat under certain disinhibiting circumstances. The present thesis aims to investigate some of the functional effects of dietary restraint. Chapter 2 evaluates two different rationales for short-term starvation and the interpretation of the results in terms of the relative importance of the internal versus external cues suggests that external cues are very important in determining (over)eating behaviour. Chapter 3 assesses the functional role of restraint in the adolescent population and provides evidence of a restraint x disinhibitor (anxiety) interaction. Restraint is therefore functional in predicting eating behaviour even in the young adolescent population. Chapter 4 evaluates the role of imagining eating food as a potential disinhibitor and results provide an insight into the determination of highly restrained individuals when faced with a situation where it is possible to maintain high levels of restraint, and I have termed this phenomenon "superinhibition". Chapter 5 psychometrically assesses the various techniques of measuring restraint and results provide clear evidence for the use of the Restraint Scale for identifying chronic dieters. The results of this thesis are analysed in terms of current Restraint Theory, and implications for further research are discussed.

Prevalence rates for adolescent depressive symptoms differ significantly between males and females. Explanatory models are unable to adequately clarify why this difference exists. To enhance understanding of gender differences, the role of intrapersonal risk factors body dissatisfaction (BD) and disordered eating behaviour (DEB) were investigated using secondary data from a sample of high school students from industrial Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Results showed that 32.4% of females and 20.6% of males experienced depressive symptoms over the past week. Both genders were at an increased risk for depressive symptoms if they had BD (OR male 1.71, OR female 1.39) or DEB (OR male 3.35, OR female 3.40). Findings indicated that males and females shared similar rather than differing risk behaviour profiles in relation to depressive symptoms with respect to DEB.

No / Obese individuals, especially those who are morbidly obese, are more likely to binge-eat and to have Disinhibition, as measured by the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire of Stunkard and Messick (1985). The latter characterises very opportunistic eating behaviour and signifies a readiness to eat. We argue in this chapter that binge eating and Disinhibition are deeply adaptive as mechanisms for dealing with one of the most fundamental of insecurities, that of food, especially in seasonal and unpredictable environments. It is only in recent decades, with improved food security in industrialized nations and the emergence of obesity at the population level, that they have become maladaptive in terms of health outcomes, and have been medically pathologized. Binge-eating and Disinhibition are no longer responses to uncertainty in food availability has they would have been in the evolutionary past. Rather, there may be other types of uncertainty and insecurity that lead to Disinhibition, binge-eating and obesity, and clinical practice should perhaps turn to examining these as higher-level factors that structure health and illness. These would include stress at work and in everyday life

Introduction: Bariatric surgery (BS) is currently the most effective treatment for morbid obesity. However, many individuals fail to lose or maintain adequate weight loss. It is a challenge to understand why some individuals can make the required changes following BS and some cannot. Evidence suggests that emotional eating (EE) may be associated with poorer outcome. However, there is as yet no conclusive research or review of the research in this area. Method: A systematic review was conducted with the aim to examine how EE relates to BS outcome. This review was complimented by a qualitative research project examining the experiences of individuals following weight loss surgery, with a particular focus on what changes and emotional coping. Results: Systematic review results suggest that EE is associated to poorer weight loss following BS. Six superordinate themes emerged from the qualitative research project; Surgery Outcome, Changing Views of the Self, Coping with Emotions, Being Judged Negatively, Being Obese is a Barrier to Living and It’s a Different Addiction. Discussion The overall results suggest that EE is an ongoing issue following bariatric surgery. BS seems to initiate various changes in behaviour, and cognition, together with increased sense of control. However, such changes seem to be attributed to BS, which is suggestive of an underestimation of self efficacy. Perceptions of obesity being the result of an addiction and emphasis on the difficulties associated with losing weight further highlight the issue of reduced self efficacy. This study also highlights that for many, having surgery does not cure all difficulties associated with eating. There are possibly underlying difficulties associated with obesity, such as neurocircuitry pathways that increase desire for food, whilst reducing control and attachment difficulties that reduce emotion regulation capacity. However, much work is required to understand such explanations and develop appropriate psychological interventions. Conclusion: The overall results from this thesis provide support for the view that EE and associated emotion regulation difficulties are related to poorer BS outcome. What seems clear from this research is that, although BS provides many positive changes, the battle against obesity continues for most and services are currently limited in their resources to intervene.