Research On The Relationship Among Attention Bias, Emotional Evaluation And Eating Behavior Of Restricted Dieters

In order to determine the relationship between attention bias,emotional ratings and eating behavior of restrained eaters,the current study investigated the attention bias,emotional ratings and eating behavior respectively through three experiments,and comprehensively analyzed their relationships.102 female college students were selected by using the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire,including 32 successful restrained eaters,35 failed restrained eaters and 35 unrestrained eaters.This study consists of three experiments and is completed by the same subjects.In experiment 1,a mixed factors design of 3(subject type:successful restrained eaters,failed restrained eaters,unrestrained eaters)X 3(probe position:consistent,inconsistent,neutral)X 2(food type:high-calorie food,low-calorie food)was used to investigate the characteristics of attention bias towards high and low calorie food among restrained eaters.In experiment 2,the single-factor between-subjects design was used to investigate the differences in eating behavior.In experiment 3,a mixed factors design of 3(subject type:successful restrained eaters,failed restrained eaters,unrestrained eaters)×2(food type:high-calorie food,low-calorie food)was used to investigate the emotional ratings of food.,and to further explore the relationship between attention bias,emotional ratings and eating behavior.Results revealed that:(1)There was no significant difference in the scores of attention bias among the three groups.For high-calorie food,the reaction time of the three groups under consistent and inconsistent conditions was longer than that under neutral conditions.But for low-calorie food,there was no significant difference in the reaction time of different probe positions.(2)There was no significant difference in consumption of pomelo among the three groups,but the consumption of chocolate was higher in failed restrained eaters than in successful restrained eaters.(3)Failed restrained eaters reported higher scores on all other aspects of the emotional ratings than those on the successful restrained eaters except cravings for low-calorie foods.(4)The attention bias and emotional ratings of the restrained eaters were not correlated with their food intake,but the emotional ratings of the unrestrained eaters were positively correlated with their food intake.The attentional bias of unrestrained eaters was not related to their food intake.The study revealed that successful,unsuccessful restrained eaters and unrestrained eaters showed the same attention bias to food.Failed restrained eaters showed more positive and sensitive emotional ratings of food,and they consume more high-calorie food than successful restrained eaters.However,there was no correlation between the food intake of restrained eaters,attention bias and emotional ratings,and the eating behavior could not be predicted by attention bias and emotional ratings.