HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Wadden, T. A Articles by Phelan, S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Wadden, T. A Articles by Phelan, S. Agricola Articles by Wadden, T. A Articles by Phelan, S.

Dieting and the development of eating disorders in obese women: results of a randomized controlled trial^1,2,3

¹ From the Department of Psychiatry, Weight and Eating Disorders Program, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia

Background: Some investigators fear that dieting may precipitate binge eating and other adverse behavioral consequences.

Objective: The objective of the study was to examine whether dieting would elicit binge eating and mood disturbance in individuals free of these complications before treatment.

Design: A total of 123 obese women were randomly assigned to 1) a 1000 kcal/d diet that included 4 servings/d of a liquid meal replacement (MR); 2) a 1200–1500 kcal/d balanced deficit diet (BDD) of conventional foods; or 3) a nondieting (ND) approach that discouraged energy restriction. All women attended weekly group sessions for 20 wk and biweekly sessions from week 20 to week 40.

Results: At week 20, participants in the MR, BDD, and ND groups lost 12.1 ± 6.7%, 7.8 ± 6.0%, and 0.1 ± 2.4% of initial weight, respectively (P < 0.001). During the first 20 wk, there were no significant differences among groups in the number of persons who had objective binge episodes or in reports of hunger or dietary disinhibition. Symptoms of depression decreased significantly more (P < 0.001) in the MR and BDD groups than in ND participants. At week 28, significantly more (P < 0.003) cases of binge eating were observed in MR participants than in the 2 other groups. No differences, however, were observed between groups at weeks 40 or 65 (a follow-up visit). At no time did any participant meet criteria for binge-eating disorder.

Conclusion: Concerns about possible adverse behavioral consequences of dieting should not dissuade primary care providers from recommending modest energy restriction to obese individuals.

Key Words: Obesity • dieting • weight loss • binge eating • depression

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. M Grilo Cognitive behavioural therapy does not improve outcome in obese women with binge eating disorder receiving a comprehensive very low calorie diet programme Evid. Based Ment. Health, February 1, 2006; 9(1): 12 - 12. [Full Text] [PDF]

				Dieting and Eating Disorders in Obese Women DOC News, January 1, 2005; 2(1): 23 - 23. [Full Text]

				Minerva BMJ, September 4, 2004; 329(7465): 580 - 580. [Full Text] [PDF]