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