Investigation of the intention to restrain food intake in adult population

Αim: The intentions of restrained eating are uncertain. In the present study, an attempt has been made to identify those intentions as well as to investigate for possible differences in them between the two sexes.

Material-Methods: Questionnaires regarding the intentions of dietary restraint were completed by 328 males (43.9%) and females (56.1%), aged from 18 to 85 years. The various eating intentions were investigated through relative frequencies. The level of statistical significance for differences in intentions between men and women was estimated according to Chi-Square test.

Results: The intentions to stop eating at the satiety level, to avoid fast food, snacking and other fattening products, to enjoy the variety of food, to be careful with the amount of dietary intake, to eat only a small amount of fattening food, to prefer lowfat products, to have regular meals with others and to enjoy the food were more often and successful. The intentions of dieting and excessive food intake were rare and women tended to pay more attention than men to their dietary behavior.

Conclusion: The intention of flexible control over eating is more prevalent than the intention of rigid control. More women than men tended to have the intention to restrain food intake.