A Systematic Review of Moderators of the Association between Dietary Restraint and Binge Eating

Obesity interventions typically involves some form of dietary restraint (i.e., intentional limiting of food intake), yet the restraint model of binge eating proposes that engaging in dietary restraint is a causal factor for binge-eating symptoms. Evidence for this model has been mixed and differs by measures, study design, and sample. Further, there also may be moderators of the association of dietary restraint and binge eating. The purpose of this systematic review was to compile the current evidence on moderators of the association of dietary restraint and binge eating. A literature search was conducted across electronic databases, resulting in inclusion of 16 papers (with 15 different samples). Reviewed studies were primarily heterosexual White college student females and were primarily cross-sectional studies with self-report measures. There were no consistent moderators across the studies. Yet, there was some evidence for interactions between affective constructs and dietary restraint in relation to binge eating as well as three-way interactions between affect, cognitive constructs, and dietary restraint. Although there were few studies, there was little current evidence for social, biological, and demographic factors as moderators. Overall, our systematic review shows a need for further research to clarify and validate moderators, and to understand complex interactions as well as potential causal relationships between restraint and binge-eating behaviors.