Elevated cognitive dietary restraint mediates the relationship between greater impulsivity and more frequent binge eating in individuals with binge-spectrum eating disorders

Abstract

The current study aimed to examine the relationships between impulsivity, dietary restraint, and binge eating frequency in individuals with binge-spectrum eating disorders. Secondary data analysis was conducted on baseline data from three ongoing or recently completed clinical trials. 148 participants diagnosed with a DSM-5 eating disorder characterized by binge eating were administered a clinical interview to assess dietary restraint and binge eating frequency and completed a self-report measure of trait impulsivity. Mediation analyses found that increased dietary restraint mediated the relationship between higher impulsivity, particularly greater positive urgency and sensation-seeking, and more frequent binge eating episodes. While more research using momentary assessment methods is necessary to confirm our findings, results from the current study call attention to the potential role of dietary restraint in the impulsivity-binge eating relationship for individuals with binge-spectrum eating disorders. Level V descriptive study.