2. It has been estimated that at
any one time, 40% of the
female population is trying
to lose weight, usually by
dieting and this has led to
the development a multi-
million pound “dieting”
industry.
This industry is
predominantly aimed at
females.
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for video
3. Why might someone want to lose
weight?
Ogden (2007) suggests several factors to explain why
predominantly it is women who restrict their diets to lose weight:
• Media influence (effects of SLT)
• Family influences (mother acts as a role model for the daughter)
SLT
• Ethnicity (more body dissatisfaction in white women than black
and Asian women)
•Social Class – Anorexia Nervosa was found more frequently in
higher-social class groups but this is now becoming more equally
spread across the social groups.
Peer groups (SLT) – peers are a key source of models and
reinforcement. Dieting may become the norm for the group.
4. What would as 87% ofdiet What would lead somediet
As many lead to a women have dieted at to a
being in their lives, yet as a society, we are still
point successful? being a failure?
getting fatter.
This would suggest that dieting isn’t working for us
as a species.
Several theories have been put forward
to explain why deliberate weight loss
is so elusive and one of the most
Does dieting
famous is the Restraint Theory work?
No!
5. Explanations for the Failure of Dieting
Important key terms (page 25):
Preload/ taste test – an experimental technique used in
the study of the control of eating behaviour.
After a preload meal, participants are asked to “taste” foods. In
fact, the amount they eat on the taste test is measured. Dieters
tend to eat more rather than less on the taste test after
preload.
Restrained eaters – a term used for people attempting
to diet.
6. Dieting Failure - Restraint Theory –
Herman & Mack (1975) A01
Dieting is also referred to as ‘restrained eating’
The Restraint theory suggests that Dieting can be successful,
resulting in under eating and weight loss because we are
successful in RESTRAINING (or restricting) our intake of food.
HOWEVER, more often than not, it results in over eating and
weight gain and leads to diet failure.
7. AO1 Herman and Mack (1975)
According to Herman and Mack, people often
fail because the dieter has periods of restraint
followed by periods of disinhibition
“Disinhibition” has been defined as;
“Eating more as a result of loosening restraints in
response to emotional distress, intoxication or
“preloading”
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8. Herman and Mack (1975)
Preload
x15
Please rate the
x15 taste qualities of
the
milkshakes......
x15
9. Herman and Mack (1975)
Then...
10 minutes
x15
What was
x15 your level of
dietary
Please rate the
restraint?
taste qualities
of the ice
creams..
x15
EAT AS MUCH
AS YOU
AO3
WANT! criticisms?
10. Herman and Mack (1975)
Results:
In other words, the more
Amount
of ice restrained eater they were (i.e.,
cream concerned with dieting), the
more they ate!!!
Eating restraint score
AO3
criticisms?
11. Herman and Mack (1975)
Conclusion:
• They concluded that the results support a boundary model of dietary
restraint.
• Restrained eaters have a “cognitive” dieting boundary for
food intake. Once this boundary is overcome (by the milkshake preloads) the
“what the hell” effect takes over and eating is disinhibited.
•So high-restraint eater (dieters) will therefore eat MORE in the preload
condition; the opposite pattern to low restraint participants (non-dieters).
This is why diets fail!!!
Elaboration:
This means that... people on diets (restrained eaters), once they
have reached their boundary for eating – will experience the
“what the hell effect” – and will then actually eat more – so
therefore attempts to diet will usually fail.
12. Evaluation
In addition to the classic study by Herman and Mack, other
studies have found that dieters overeat compared to non-dieters.
In particular, the restraint
theory has identified disinhibition of restraint
(‘What the hell’ effect) as a characteristic of
overeating
The Restraint Theory isn’t enough
Ruderman & Wilson (1979) reported the restrained eaters
consume significantly more food than the unrestrained eaters,
irrespective of preload
Not everyone overeats
Not all people who restrain their eating overeat
– which groups don’t overeat?
13. Approaches: Debates:
Determinism Vs. Free Will
Could it be better explained by an
alternative approach?
Ethical Issues:
Deception
Issues:
Gender Bias
Also, don’t forget..AO3..
Culture Bias
-Independent group design
Reductionist -All female sample
-Laboratory experiment
14. Dieting Success A01
- relapse prevention
Jeffery (2000) noted that After 6 months weight regain
dieting among obese begins and it was concluded
people creates an initial that the failure to maintain the
rapid weight loss which behaviour change of dieting
then slows down. was the main factor of this
This was due to a lack of knowledge, skills and motivation as well
as unpleasant side effects (e.g. hunger, stress or social pressure to
eat)
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for video
15. Dieting Success A01
- relapse prevention
•Dieting success then results from teaching ‘weight
maintenance skills’ rather than just weight loss.
•Teaching people to identify situations where lapses typically
occur.
•Strategies are created in advance to prevent a lapse or to get
back on track.
•Not treating ‘breaking the rules’ as a failure – that can lead to
negative psychological reactions
16. Dieting Success A02
- relapse prevention
Thomas & Stern (1995) reported that strategies to improve
social networks have focussed on teaching spouses or
significant others to provide social support during the weight
loss process and modest success rates have been achieved.
Strategies of drawing up contracts in which groups aim for
individual or group weight loss targets have also been
successful
17. A02
Evaluation
WeightWatchers
Their success is attributable to the support the
members provide each other – highlighting the
importance of social support
Miller-Kovach et al (2001)
Reported that being on a WeightWatchers
programme was more successful that using
self-help methods of a period of 2 years
Lowe et al (2004)
Weight losses achieved through being a member
of WW were reasonably maintained over a
5 year period
