A recent study conducted by Dutch researchers which examined 148 women found that although the women were consuming similar amounts of food, those who were frequent dieters had increased levels of guilt after eating.
The study, conducted by researchers in Utrecht University and published in the journal Psychology and Health, commented that: “’Despite their good intentions, restraint eaters seem to gain nothing and lose twice. Results indicated that restraint was not associated with food intake, but instead was associated with increased levels of guilt after eating.”
The women who took part in the study were invited to a laboratory for what they thought was a tasting session for a supermarket chain. They were then left alone for ten minutes to sample the foods, which included high calorie foods like chips and low calorie food like apples.
The results showed that those associated with dieting often and who worry about weight gain had eaten just as much as those who didn’t. However, these women were associated with greater levels of guilt than those who were not keen dieters.
The researchers concluded that further examination should take place into why women who diet frequently have such negative outcomes and emotions. The report commented that these women seemed to rob themselves of the pleasure of enjoying food.
