Discuss two or more explanations for the success and/or failure of dieting

Similarly, Wardle and Beales (1988) carried out an experiment to investigate whether dieting resulted in overeating. They randomly assigned 27 obese women either to a diet group, an exercise group or a control group for seven weeks. All participants took part in the laboratory procedure to assess their food intakes at weeks four and six. The results indicated that participants in the diet condition ate more than those in the exercise group and also those in the control group, supporting a casual link between dieting and overeating.

However, although the restraint theory proposes and association between food restriction and overeating, according to Ogden (2007) it does not explain as to why people who suffer from anorexia are able to starve themselves.

Also, the restraint theory suggests that restraint leads to excess, yet the treatment for obesity often recommends restraint as a solution to the excessive weight gain. However, failed attempts to diet can leave the individual feeling depressed as they are unable to control their weight. Although obesity may not necessarily be the cause overeating, overeating may be a consequence of obesity if restraint is recommended as a treatment.

The boundary model was developed by Herman and Polivy (1984). According to this model, hunger keeps intake of food above a certain minimum, and satiety works to keep intake below some maximum level. Between these two levels, psychological factors have the greatest impact on consumption. Dieters tend to have a larger range between hunger and satiety levels as it takes them longer to feel hungry and more food to satisfy them.  In addition restrained eaters have a self-imposed desired intake. Once they have gone over this boundary they continue to eat until they reach satiety.

Cognitive research has shown that thought suppression and thought control can have the paradoxical effect, making it more prominent For example Wegner et al (1987) told some participants not to try to think about a white bear but to ring the bell if they did, others were told to think about the white bear. Results showed that those trying not to think about the white bear actually thought about it much more than those who were told to think about it. Wegner referred to this phenomenon as the ‘theory of ironic processes of mental control. A decision to eat less or not to eat specific foods is central to the dieter’s cognitive set and may set up a similar process of denial. Therefore as soon as food is denied, it simultaneously becomes forbidden and is, eventually, translated into eating.

In conclusion, it is evident that although dieters often aim to lose weight by restricting their eating, this is not always achieved. The fact that overeating and also undereating can cause weight gain, can often be frustrating and off-putting for many people wishing to lose weight. Also it is possible that there due to the lack of weight loss in the first few days of the diet, motivation decreases, leaving the individual in a low mood and not wanting to continue with the diet.