Restraint and perception of body weight among British adults

Abstract

A sample of 533 adults (268 women and 265 men) representative of the general population of Great Britain were interviewed so that the extent and effects of restraint, using the Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (DEBQ; Van Strien, Frijters, Bergers, & Defares, 1986) and the extent of overestimation of body weight could be examined. High-restraint subjects reported more guilt about food and eating and a greater likelihood of overeating in reaction to dysphoric mood, and they were more apt to overestimate their body size. Women reported significantly higher restraint, more guilt after eating in various types of social situations, and more overeating in reaction to dysphoric mood. Higher social class was associated with reports of guilt about a greater number of foods and with reports of more overeating when under stress or tired. Age was positively associated with guilt and negatively associated with overeating in reaction to being under stress, tired, or depressed.