How dieting can succeed: Implications of the goal conflict theory of eating
Projectomschrijving
Waarom zijn sommige lijners succesvoller dan andere? Wij onderzoeken de verschillen tussen succesvolle en onsuccesvolle lijners t.a.v. spontane gedachten over lekker eten. Dit om onsuccesvolle lijners te trainen succesvol te worden. Bekend is dat succesvolle lijners spontaan aan lijnen denken als zij lekker eten zien, wat hen helpt voedselverleidingen te weerstaan. Onsuccesvolle lijners denken alleen nog maar aan het lekkere eten in deze situaties. Zowel succesvolle als onsuccesvolle lijners evalueren lekker eten positief, maar verschillen sterk in hun subjectieve beoordeling van de belonende waarde (geanticipeerd plezier) van lekker eten. Succesvolle lijners ervaren dit als minder belonend, waardoor zij minder gemotiveerd zijn het te eten. Onsuccesvolle lijners ervaren lekker eten juist als extreem belonend. Omdat er een sterk motiverende werking van beloningen uit gaat, is het voor hen zeer moeilijk zich te beheersen. Echter, door hen te trainen automatisch aan lijnen te denken in verleidende situaties, kunnen zij voedselverleidingen beter weerstaan.
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Samenvatting van de aanvraag
Obesity has been increasing dramatically. This is a matter of grave concern, because obesity is associated with serious health consequences. Furthermore, even though obese individuals can be successful in losing substantial amounts of weight through dieting, they are typically unable to maintain their weight loss. According to some estimates more than 90% of dieters regain the lost weight within 5 years and nearly half weigh more 5 years later than they had before their weight loss attempts (e.g., Mann et al., 2007). Such findings strongly suggest that our only hope in controlling the "global obesity epidemic" (WHO, 2000) is through weight-gain prevention rather than weight-loss intervention. However, like weight-loss interventions, the prevention of weight-gain requires effective, albeit less restrictive, calorie control. This research project therefore addresses the question why most dieters fail to control their calorie intake and whether it is possible to teach people to diet successfully. The proposed research is based on the goal conflict model of eating (Stroebe, 2008, Stroebe et al., 2008, in press) and the theory of temptation-elicited goal activation (Fishbach et al., 2003). Whereas the goal conflict model offers an explanation for why chronic dieters often fail by suggesting that food temptations trigger hedonic thoughts which result in the inhibition of thoughts about dieting, the theory of temptation-elicited goal activation assumes the existence of successful dieters, for whom food temptations activate dieting thoughts directly. Little is known about why some restrained eaters succeed in dieting and others do not. Guided by our goal conflict theory of eating, the proposed research will address this question with the ultimate goal of identifying the cognitive processes and strategies that are responsible for the success of successful restrained eaters. This knowledge will then be used to help unsuccessful restrained eaters to become more successful in their weight-control attempts. The results of the proposed research would be relevant to both weight gain prevention and weight loss interventions.