Changes in eating behaviour traits during weight loss and their relationship to changes in diet and body weight

Abstract

Increases in dietary restraint and decreases in disinhibition are associated with greater weight loss during obesity treatment but their relationship with dietary intake is less clear. Seven hundred and seventy-two overweight and obese adults participated in a randomised controlled trial of two 12-month weight loss interventions. Participants were weighed and completed the TFEQ-R21 and a 4-day food diary at 0, 6 and 12 months. Separate multiple regression models examined 12-month changes in TFEQ-R21 scores for Cognitive Restraint, Uncontrolled Eating and Emotional Eating and their relationships with changes in body weight (kg), energy intake (kJ) and fat intake (% kJ), adjusted for treatment, gender, centre, and baseline measures. Increases in Cognitive Restraint were associated with greater weight loss ( β = 0.8, p < 0.001) and larger reductions in energy intake ( β = 19.2, p < 0.001) and fat intake ( β = 0.05, p = 0.03). Decreases in Uncontrolled Eating were associated with greater weight loss ( β = 0.1, p < 0.001) and larger reductions in energy intake ( β = 25.1, p < 0.001). Decreases in Emotional Eating were associated with greater weight loss ( β = 0.1, p < 0.001) and larger reductions in energy intake ( β = 13.8, p < 0.001). These findings highlight the role of eating behaviour traits during weight loss and demonstrate associations with energy intake, and potentially food choices.