Predictive significance of changes in dietary restraint in obese patients with binge eating disorder during treatment

Objective: To examine whether changes in different aspects of dietary restraint in obese patients with binge eating disorder (BED) participating in a treatment study predict outcomes. Method: Fifty obese patients with BED in a randomized controlled study of orlistat administered with cognitive‐behavioral therapy, guided‐self‐help (CBTgsh) completed dietary restraint measures at baseline, during‐ and post‐treatment, and three‐month follow‐up. Results: Change in the restraint scale of the Eating Disorder Examination‐Questionnaire did not predict binge abstinence or 5% weight loss. Increased flexible restraint subscale of the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ) during treatment significantly predicted binge abstinence at post‐treatment and three‐month follow‐up and 5% weight loss at post‐treatment. Change in the rigid restraint subscale of the TFEQ predicted binge abstinence at post‐treatment. Discussion: Our findings clarify further pathologic and adaptive aspects of restraint and suggest the importance of enhancing flexible restraint in order to improve both binge eating and weight loss outcomes. © 2010 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2011)