Abstract

This study investigated the effects of psychobiological characteristics of non-obese women with a high level of weight suppression (H-WS) on explicit-implicit and approach-avoidance response toward food cues, depending on hunger-satiety states. The 634 participants were divided into two groups according to their weight history. If the difference between their highest weight over the last year and their current weight (a difference sustained at least for 1 year) was more than 5%, they were assigned to the “H-WS” group (N = 25). If the difference in weight was less than 5%, they were assigned to the “low level of weight suppression” (L-WS) group (N = 29). Explicit approach and avoidance toward food were measured by self-report questionnaires. Implicit approach and avoidance toward food cues were measured using an eye-tracker. Fasting blood samples were obtained to measure fasting serum leptin levels. After this, participants consumed a standard breakfast to control the satiety level. After breakfast, explicit-implicit approach-avoidance responses were repeatedly measured at the satiety states. Self-reported body shape concerns, drive for thinness, ambivalent food craving, and bulimic behavior were also assessed. The results showed that the H-WS group had lower leptin levels, and higher body shape concerns, drive for thinness, ambivalent food craving, and bulimic behaviors compared to the L-WS group. At the explicit level, the H-WS group reported lower approach and higher avoidance to food compared to the L-WS group, regardless of hunger-satiety state. Whereas, at the implicit level, the H-WS group showed higher approach during satiety rather than during hunger states. Regardless of the hunger-satiety state, there were no significant group differences with regard to implicit avoidance between the two groups. Thus, we confirmed that a high level of avoidance toward foods was observed in the H-WS group at the explicit level but not at the implicit level. Moreover, in contrast with a high level of explicit avoidance toward palatable foods, inhibition for implicit approach toward high-calorie foods seemed to be blunted after food consumption in the H-WS group. These inconsistencies may be associated with ambivalent food craving and vulnerability to bulimic behavior among H-WS individuals.

Highlights

  • Weight suppression, which refers to weight loss and maintenance of reduced body weight, is widely acknowledged as a causal factor in the onset and maintenance of bulimic syndromes (Polivy and Herman, 1985; Fairburn et al, 1997; Stice, 2002; Keel and Heatherton, 2010)

  • This study aimed to examine the biological and psychological characteristics related to weight suppression

  • Consistent with the hypotheses, the high level of weight suppression (H-WS) group showed lower leptin levels as well as a higher level of body shape concerns and a higher drive for thinness compared to the level of weight suppression” (L-WS) group

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Summary

Introduction

Weight suppression, which refers to weight loss and maintenance of reduced body weight, is widely acknowledged as a causal factor in the onset and maintenance of bulimic syndromes (Polivy and Herman, 1985; Fairburn et al, 1997; Stice, 2002; Keel and Heatherton, 2010). Weight loss may lead to biological states prone to regaining weight, and lead to psychological states urging a pursuit to thinness (Lowe et al, 2018). These biological and psychological states bind individuals with high level of weight suppression (H-WS) in bulimic behavior, which comprises cyclic binge-eating, and compensatory behaviors (Butryn et al, 2006; Herzog et al, 2010; Lowe et al, 2018) in the pursuit goals in opposite directions (i.e., promoting weight regain versus avoidance of weight regain). The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of weight suppression on these contradictory biological and psychological states

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