Elsevier

Appetite

Volume 59, Issue 2, October 2012, Pages 541-549
Appetite

Research review
Eating behavior dimensions. Associations with energy intake and body weight. A review

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2012.07.001Get rights and content

Abstract

The purpose of this review is to spark integrative thinking in the area of eating behaviors by critically examining research on exemplary constructs in this area. The eating behaviors food responsiveness, enjoyment of eating, satiety responsiveness, eating in the absence of hunger, reinforcing value of food, eating disinhibition and impulsivity/self-control are reviewed in relation to energy intake, body mass index and weight gain over time. Each of these constructs has been developed independently, and little research has explored the extent to which they overlap or whether they differentially predict food choices, energy intake and weight gain in the naturalistic environment. Most available data show positive cross-sectional associations with body mass index, but fewer studies report associations with energy intake or food choices. Little prospective data are available to link measures of eating behaviors with weight gain. Disinhibition has the largest and most consistent body of empirical data that link it prospectively with weight gain. An overarching conceptual model to integrate the conceptual and empirical research base for the role of eating behavior dimensions in the field of obesity research would highlight potential patterns of interaction between individual differences in eating behaviors, specific aspects of the individual’s food environment and individual variation in state levels of hunger and satiety.

Highlights

• Purpose of review is to spark integrative thinking in the area of eating behaviors. • Eating behavior constructs are reviewed related to energy intake, body mass index and weight gain. • Positive associations with body mass index; fewer reported with energy intake or food choices. • Integrative conceptual model needed to highlight environment-individual interaction.

Introduction

Obesity is a population epidemic that continues to expand globally across international boundaries and cultures (de Onis, Blossner, & Borghi, 2010). There is general consensus that a permissive food environment is an important contributing factor (French, Story, & Jeffery, 2001). However, there is also wide individual variability in body weight and weight gain over time in all environments (French, Jeffery, Folsom, Williamson, & Byers, 1995). Therefore, it is important to understand the characteristics of individuals that interact with the environment to either magnify or minimize environmental risks (Blundell et al., 2005). A better understanding of individual differences is important to illuminate the causes of obesity and identify potential solutions.

Ultimately, excess energy intake is the pathway through which a permissive food environment influences weight gain. Eating behaviors influence energy intake through choices about when and where to eat, and the types and amounts of foods chosen, including decisions about starting and stopping eating (Blundell and Cooling, 2000, Blundell et al., 2005). Individual differences in eating behaviors have been captured using several different independently developed measures and underlying conceptualizations, including food responsiveness (Carnell and Wardle, 2008, Wardle et al., 2001), food enjoyment (Carnell and Wardle, 2008, Wardle et al., 2001), satiety responsiveness (Carnell and Wardle, 2008, Wardle et al., 2001), eating in the absence of hunger (Birch et al., 2003, Fisher and Birch, 1999), reinforcing value of food (Epstein, Leddy, et al., 2007, Epstein and Saelens, 2000, Epstein, Temple, et al., 2007), and the capacity to voluntarily inhibit eating (Herman and Mack, 1975, Herman and Polivy, 1984, Stunkard and Messick, 1985). Dispositions toward impulsivity and self-control have also been empirically linked with eating behaviors and weight gain (Francis and Sussman, 2009, Nederkoorn, Braet, et al., 2006, Nederkoorn, Smulders, et al., 2006).

The purpose of the present selective review is to promote integrative thought with respect to conceptualization of eating behavior dimensions in children and adults. Key guiding questions are: (1) What measures have been used to capture eating behavior dimensions? (2) Are eating behavior dimensions consistent across child and adult populations? (3) How well do eating behavior dimensions predict food choices, energy intake, body mass index or weight gain? (4) Is any theoretical integration possible, based on the presently available empirical evidence?

Section snippets

Methods

Seven eating behavior constructs were selected for inclusion in this review on the basis of available literature linking them with energy intake, food choice and weight gain. Major databases were searched (PubMed, Medline, Psychlit) using the seven terms food responsiveness, satiety responsiveness, eating in the absence of hunger, relative reinforcing value of food, eating disinhibition, impulsivity and self-control and minor variations in each term. Each was crossed with body mass index,

Discussion

Seven eating behavior dimensions and their association with energy intake and weight gain were reviewed here. They have all been shown to be stable and higher among overweight compared with normal weight children and adults (Ashcroft et al., 2008). Most available studies are cross-sectional in design, but there are a limited number of prospective studies that show positive associations between some of the eating behavior dimensions and weight gain. However, most of the available research does

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