Observed choices between options representing a relative vice and a relative virtue have commonly been used as a measure of eating self-control in the literature. However, even though self-control operations may manifest across the post-choice consumption stage, either similarly or in different ways from the choice stage, most prior research has ignored consumption quantity of the chosen option. While the behavior of choosing a virtue instead of a vice does manifest self-control, we examine how this plays out in post-choice consumption. Specifically, we find that when processing resources are limited, after having chosen a virtue food, unrestrained eaters ironically consumed greater quantities and therefore more calories than restrained eaters (Study 1). This reflects more persistent self-control in the post-choice consumption stage among restrained eaters than unrestrained eaters, and occurs because choosing a virtue lowers accessibility of the self-control goal among unrestrained eaters relative to restrained eaters (Study 2), thereby increasing intake of the virtuous food. In contrast, subsequent to having chosen a vice, unrestrained eaters and restrained eaters did not show any such difference in intake (Study 1) or goal accessibility (Study 2). Together, these results reveal that persistence of self-control in the post-choice consumption stage depends on individuals\' dietary restraint and their initial exercise of self-control in the choice decision. The mere act of choosing a virtue satisfies unrestrained eaters\' self-control goal and leads to increased food intake, whereas the same act keeps the same goal activated among restrained eaters who reduce intake of the chosen virtue. Put differently, persistent self-control across choice and quantity decisions is observed only when those with a dietary goal show successful self-control enactment in the choice stage. We therefore highlight that the operation of self-control can be dynamic within a consumption episode, and thus, choice and post-choice quantity are both informative of self-control.

This study aimed to assess the relationships between routine and compensatory restraints and body mass index (BMI), as well as to explore the mediating role of emotional and external eating in the relationships between routine and compensatory restraints and BMI. Chinese adults aged ≥18 years with different weight statuses were invited to fill out an online questionnaire. Routine and compensatory restraints and emotional and external eating were assessed using the validated 13-item Chinese version of the Weight-Related Eating Questionnaire. Mediation analyses tested the mediation effects of emotional and external eating on the relationship between routine and compensatory restraints and BMI. In total, 949 participants (26.4% male) responded to the survey (mean age = 33 years, standard deviation (SD) = 14, mean BMI = 22.0 kg/m2, SD = 3.8). The mean routine restraint score was higher in the overweight/obese group (mean ± SD = 2.13 ± 0.76, p < 0.001) than in the normal weight (2.08 ± 0.89) and underweight (1.72 ± 0.94) groups. However, the normal weight group scored higher in compensatory restraint (2.88 ± 1.03, p = 0.021) than the overweight/obese (2.75 ± 0.93) and underweight (2.62 ± 1.04) groups. Routine restraint was related to higher BMI both directly (β = 0.07, p = 0.02) and indirectly through emotional eating (β = 0.04, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.03, 0.07). Compensatory restraint was only indirectly related to higher BMI through emotional eating (β = 0.04, 95% CI = 0.03, 0.07).

Valid and reliable measures are needed to identify individuals at risk of dietary restraint, emotional and external eating, and to customize weight loss education for more effective weight management. This study aimed to develop and validate a Chinese version of the Weight-Related Eating Behavior Questionnaire (WREQ-C) for assessing dietary restraint, emotional eating, and external eating. In stage one, the linguistic validation of the original English version of the WREQ (WREQ-E) was conducted. In stage two, the psychometric properties of the WREQ-C were first evaluated by item response theory-based (IRT) analyses. The reduced scale was then examined for convergent validity, structural validity (using a confirmatory factor analysis), population invariance, and test-retest reliability. The study included 1007 adults aged between 18 and 71 years. The IRT analysis optimally shortened the original WREQ-E from 16 to 13 items. A convergent validity analysis showed significant correlations between the WREQ-C subscales and the Chinese version of the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire subscales (r = 0.63-0.82). The 13-item WREQ-C demonstrated good reliability (Cronbach\'s α = 0.74-0.89) and validity for assessing the psychological aspects of eating behavior, including routine restraint, compensatory restraint, susceptibility to external cues, and emotional eating in Chinese adults.

OBJECTIVE: Eating disorders and obesity are commonly recognized as key public health concerns worldwide. Although rates of obesity and disordered eating have traditionally been lower in China than Western countries, these rates are on the rise. As such, interest is growing in identifying mechanisms that may address these conditions. While associations between body weight and dissatisfaction are well established, burgeoning research aims to examine how these factors are related to dietary restraint and body image inflexibility. This study aimed to explore the possible mediation effect of body dissatisfaction and body image inflexibility between body weight (body mass index) and dietary restraint. Furthermore, we explored how these relationships differed across men and women.
METHODS: A sample of 1068 young adults (563 females and 505 males) in China participated in the study. Participants completed the Eating Disorder Inventory and Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire as well as the Body Image-Acceptance and Action Questionnaire.
RESULTS: Results showed that: (1) body dissatisfaction and body image inflexibility fully mediated the relationship between body mass index and dietary restraint; (2) this model fit both genders, although differences were found in the regression coefficients between the mediation model for men and women.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings support body image dissatisfaction and inflexibility as mediators of the relationship between body weight and dietary restraint, highlighting these as potential mechanisms for treatment.
METHODS: Level III, case-control analytic study.