Influences on food choice and intake

• Published in: Appetite Vol. 23; no. 1; pp. 87 - 89
• Main Authors: Blair, A.J, Lewis, V.J, Booth, D.A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 1994
• Subjects: behavior; food choices; food intake; men; prediction; psychosocial factors; weight losses; women
• ISSN: 0195-6663; 1095-8304

We have carried out a variety of interconnected studies of correlations among questionnaire responses from a convenience sample of individuals actively engaged in weight control. A negative association was observed between energy intake at drink-breaks and successful maintenance of weight loss. A related finding is a positive association between the reported use of the strategy of generally avoiding calories between meals and maintained weight reduction. In a separate analysis, evidence was found that eating in response to emotional precursors interfered with success at weight control. Most of the above results have been presented in detail or in summary elsewhere (Blair, Booth, Lewis & Wainwright, 1989; Blair, Lewis & Booth, 1990; French, Read, Booth & Arkley, 1993). New data presented here address the role of attitudes. There was evidence that the Fishbein attitudinal model is incomplete for the prediction of weight-control behaviour. For example, such behaviour was more strongly associated with mean efficacy belief than with either the attitude to the behaviour or the subjective norms bearing on it. Nevertheless, such associations varied substantially among grades of obesity (Table 1). These sorts of behaviour were only modestly associated with maintenance of weight loss (Table 2). Indeed, their addition to emotional eating and self-efficacy in a regression equation for maintenance success made no difference to the amount of variance accounted for. More precise specifications of food choices and their timings are necessary for a definite association with maintenance of weight loss over a year or more (Booth, 1993; French et al., 1993).