Impact of Dieting Status and Dietary Restraint on Postexercise Energy Intake in Overweight Women

AbstractObjective: To investigate the unknown relationship between dieting status and dietary restraint on postexercise energy intake (PE‐EI) in overweight sedentary women after a bout of moderate‐intensity exercise. Specifically, this was investigated in women who were categorized as dieting with high restraint, nondieting with high restraint, or nondieting with low restraint.Research Methods and Procedures: This study consisted of two experimental conditions, exercise (E) and nonexercise (NE) in a counterbalanced‐crossover design on 2 different days. On the E day, the subjects participated in moderate‐intensity exercise, walking on a treadmill for 60 minutes at 60% to 70% of their maximum heart rate. PE‐EI at lunch and 12 hours after was compared on the E and an NE day. Dietary restraint was determined using the Three‐Factor Eating Questionnaire.Results: Participants (n = 36) were 26 ± 7 years of age, sedentary, and had a mean body mass index of 27 ± 3 kg/m2. There was a significant interaction (F(2,33) = 3.32, p = 0.049) of dieting/restraint status and condition (E vs. NE day) on 12‐hour EI. The mean difference in 12‐hour EI between the E and the NE day was significantly higher (p < 0.01) for the dieting with high restraint than for the nondieting with high restraint.Discussion: The results of this study demonstrate that dieting status, high dietary restraint, and higher levels of disinhibition may influence PE‐EI in overweight women after a bout of moderate‐intensity physical activity.