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Does short-term fasting promote pathological eating patterns?
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Does short-term fasting promote pathological eating patterns?

Katherine Schaumberg, Drew A. Anderson, Erin E. Reilly and Lisa M. Anderson
Eating behaviors : an international journal, v 19, pp 168-172
Dec 2015
PMID: 26431904

Abstract

Binge eating Disinhibition Eating disorders Fasting
Fasting, or going a significant amount of time without eating, has been identified as a risk factor for the development of pathological eating patterns. Findings from several studies examining the impact of fasting on subsequent eating behaviors have been mixed. The current study recruited college students to record food intake, episodes of binge eating, and use of compensatory behaviors before, throughout, and following a 24-hour fast. Participants attended an initial appointment in which they completed measures of dietary restraint and disinhibition and received instructions on self-monitoring and fasting. Participants (N=122) self-monitored their eating behaviors for 96h, including a 24-hour fasting period. Participants did not demonstrate significant increases in disordered eating behaviors following the fast (e.g., objective binge episodes, self-defined excessive eating or compensatory behavior use). Baseline disinhibition predicted excessive eating as well as objective binge episodes both before and after fasting. Altogether, findings have implications for research seeking to further understand how fasting may contribute to the development of pathological eating patterns; specifically, it seems that the ED risk associated with fasting is derived from the behavior's interaction with other individual difference variables. •College students fasted for 24-hours and completed measures of disordered eating.•Fasting for 24-hours was not linked with higher risk of objective binge eating.•Baseline disinhibition predicted excessive eating and binge eating after the fast.

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#3 Good Health and Well-Being
#5 Gender Equality

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Psychiatry
Psychology, Clinical
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