The Influence of Restrained Eating on Choice of Film to Watch

Janet M. Otto
Missouri Western State College
December 5, 1996

Abstract

Restrained eaters chronically restrict their food intake to avoid becoming fat but, can temporarily lose control when experiencing a strong negative emotion. Much research has been done exposing subjects to horror films to induce a negative emotional state, thus causing a disinhibitory effect on restrained eating. The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not the restrained eater avoids situations that may cause her to lose control of her eating. Subjects were chosen from a shopping mall in a mid-sized midwestern town, all between ages 18 to 25, all of normal weight, and all female. Subjects were given a survey intended to measure attitudes about food, frequency of dieting and history of dieting. Subjects were then asked if they would prefer to watch a horror film or a documentary. To half of the subjects food was mentioned, to the other half, food was not mentioned. It was hypothesized that the restrained eater would avoid the choice of the horror film, especially in the food condition.

Introduction

For many decades, American women have been obsessed with controlling their weight through diet and exercise. After all this time, one would assume that the problem has been solved and women in America no longer worry about dieting. Just the opposite is true, more women in America are presently, have recently been, or plan to be on a diet (Herman and Polivy, 1980). And with all the dieting going on, more women in America are obese than ever before. What is the factor that would influence some women to remain of normal weight in a culture where it would be so easy to become overweight? What kinds of traits do people of normal weight have that obese people do not have?

Much of the research has focused on restrained and unrestrained eating. Herman and Polivy, (1980) have found that restrained eaters chronically restrict their food intake to avoid becoming fat. Restrained eaters are chronically concerned with weight, food, and dieting (Ruderman, 1985). The food intake of restrained eaters is determined by the balance between their desire to eat and their desire to diet (Ruderman, 1985). Unrestrained eaters would be those individuals who have far less concern with dieting and weight and eat whatever and whenever they desire and still maintain a normal weight.

Even a restrained eater has trouble controlling what she eats. Laboratory research has suggested that restrained eaters may be at a high risk for binge-eating episodes if they become temporarily incapable of maintaining strict dietary self-control (Schotte, Cools,and McNally, 1990). Such disinhibition may be triggered by factors such as eating a forbidden food, ingesting alcohol, or experiencing strong negative emotions (Ruderman, 1985).

Previous research has tried to induce disinhibiting states by the use of horror films. Heatherton, Herman, and Polivy (1992) argue that dieters overeat when they are not self-aware. People experience a wide range of emotions (positive and negative) when watching horror movies, but as long as the movie is compelling, what they experience most of all is an escape from self-awareness (Heatherton, Herman, and Polivy, 1992). This loss of self-awareness seems to disinhibit restrained eating (Ruderman, 1985).

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not the restrained eater avoids situations that may cause her to loose self-awareness and thus loose control over her eating. This study looked at the effect of the presence or absence of food on the type of film chosen to watch. The prediction was that the presence of food will influence the restrained eater to avoid watching a horror film in order to avoid a disinhibiting situation.

Methods

Subjects

Participants were chosen from a shopping mall in a midwestern town. The 24 participants were all female, aged 18-25 and of normal weight according to accepted height and weight standards (Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, 1959).

Materials

Participants eating tendencies were assessed using the restraint scale as used by Ruderman (1985). The scale consisted of 10 self-report items which assesses attitudes toward eating, frequency of dieting, and weight fluctuations. A copy of this scale is found in the Appendix. Surveying of the participants was recorded on a regular-sized spiral notebook.

Procedure

The participants were first assessed for eating tendencies with the Restrained Eating Scale as used by Ruderman (1985). The participants were then asked if they would like to watch a horror film or a documentary. Half of the participants were told that food was available, while food was not mentioned to the other half.
Participants were surveyed at individual times by the experimenter at the shopping mall where the participants were found. All recording was done by the experimenter alone in a standard notebook.

Results

The data collected from the study were analyzed using ANOVA for independent groups. Film choice and the presence/absence of food were compared using ANOVA, finding,f(1)=1.478, p<>> .05, indicating a non-significant result. The total score on the restrained eating scale was compared with film choice was compared using ANOVA, finding, f(1)= 0.824, p<>> .05, indicating a non-significant result. Item 8 on the restrained eating scale was compared with film choice, finding, f(1)=3.882, p<>> .05, indicating a non-significant result. All other items on the restrained eating scale were compared film choice using ANOVA, all of which yielded non-significant results.

Discussion

This study attempted to show the tendency of the restrained eater to avoid situations that might cause her to lose control of her eating. The situation that would cause the restrained eater to lose control in this study was intended to be the possibility of watching a horror movie with food available. It was expected that the choice of watching a horror movie would be avoided, especially when food was going to be present.

The current study found no significant results.. This could be credited to the small sample size and the method in which the data were collected. The avoidance reaction to the horror movie and food may not have been as strong because the actual situation was not iminent. Perhaps the sight and smell of food would have made more of an impact.

Although the current study did not find anything significant, I believe the area of reasearch to still be valid. Future studies should be done with large samples of women and maybe even several different types of food, looking at the impact of each. Nevertheless, this area of research should not be overlooked.

References

Heatherton, T., Herman, C., & Polivy, J. (1992). Effects of distress on eating: The importance of ego-involvement. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 62, 801-803.
Herman, C., & Polivy, J. (1980) Restrained eating. In A.B. Stunkard (Ed.) Obesity, 208-225. Philadelphia: Saunders.
Ruderman, A. (1985). Dysphoric mood and overeating: A test of restraint theory's disinhibition hypothesis. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 94, 78-85.
Schotte, D., Cools, J., & McNally, R., (1990). Film-induced negative affect triggers overeating in restrained eaters. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 99, 317-320.

Appendix

Restraint Scale

1. How often are you dieting?
Never rarely sometimes often always (scored 0-4)
2. What is the maximum amount of weight ( in pounds) that you have ever lost within one month?
0-4 5-9 10-14 15-19 20+ (scored 0-4)
3. What is your maximum weight gain within a week?
0-1 5-9 10-14 15-19 20+ (scored 0-4)
4. In a typical week, how much does your weight fluctuate?
0-1 1.1-2 2.1-3 3.1-5 5+ (scored 0-4)
5. Would a weight fluctuation of 5 pounds affect the way you live your life?
Not at all slightly moderately very much (scored 0-3)
6. Do you eat sensibly in front of others and splurge alone?
Never rarely often always ( scored 0-3)
7. Do you give too much time and thought to food?,br> Never rarely often always (scored 0-3)
8. Do you have feelings of guilt after overeating?
Never rarely often always (scored 0-3)
9. How conscious are you of what you are eating?
Not at all slightly moderately extremely (scored 0-3)
10. How many pounds over your desired weight were you at your maximum weight?
0-1 1-5 6-10 11-20 21+ (scored 0-4)

Back to MWSU Psychology Research Page
Back to PSY302 Research Page