Research article summary (published 5 Feb 2008):

Resisting temptation: effects of exposure to a forbidden food on eating behaviour.

Full Abstract

The study tests existing evidence on the paradoxical effects of exposure to a forbidden snack. Sixty-eight females were assigned randomly to one of two conditions: a temptation group, who were given the instruction to abstain from a favourite snack for 24h while being exposed to it, or a control group, who were given no specific instructions. A further distinction was made between high-restraint/high-disinhibition (n=21), high-restraint/low-disinhibition (n=20) and low-restraint participants (n=27) based on DEBQ subscale scores. After exposure to the foods, all participants were given free access to the food. Participants ate more of the snack after abstinence with exposure. The high-restraint/high-disinhibition group in particular displayed a substantial disinhibition effect. Results indicate that prohibition with exposure may backfire and increase the risk of loss of control over eating behaviour, particularly in at-risk groups of disinhibited restrained eaters.

Author information

Author/s: Soetens, Barbara (B); Braet, Caroline (C); Van Vlierberghe, Leen (L); Roets, Arne (A);

Affiliation: Department of Applied Psychology, Lessius University College of the Catholic University of Leuven, Sanderusstraat 45, 2018 Antwerpen, Belgium.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Appetite (Appetite), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Jul; vol 51 (issue 1) : pp 202-5

Dates: Created 2008/05/05; Completed 2008/10/14;

PMID: 18342989, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent Adult Diet, Reducing - psychology Eating - physiology; psychology Environmental Exposure

Feeding Behavior Female Humans Inhibition (Psychology) Social Control, Informal

Related articles

These are the highest related articles currently in the database:

• Dieting as a case of behavioural decision making. Does self-control matter? 6 Apr 2008
• Differential effects of active and passive stress on food intake in restrained and unrestrained eaters. 30 Mar 2004
• Cognitive dietary restraint and cortisol: importance of pervasive concerns with appearance. 17 Apr 2006
• Eating less than required versus eating less than desired. The criterion problem in the validity studies of Williamson et al. (2007). 7 Oct 2007
• An evolutionary perspective on dieting. 25 Jun 2006
• Perceived effects of stress on food choice. 29 Apr 1999
• Do unsuccessful dieters intentionally underreport food intake? 30 Oct 1998
• Restraint, disinhibition and food-related processing bias. 23 Mar 2008
• Modification of the cognitive model for bulimia via path analysis on a Brazilian adolescent sample. 30 Dec 1998
• Everyday dietary behaviour and the relationship between attention and meal size. 23 Jul 2005

See 100+ related articles.

Related Article Map

Legend: - FREE Full text Article. - Abstract only. - Title only. More help.

See a large map of 100+ related articles.