Treat or Enhance Cognitive Restraint in Individuals Suffering from Overweight or Obesity? Systematic Revue of the Literature

Prior to 1975, the scientific literature mainly used to compare obese with normal-weight subjects or subjects with or without an eating disorder. This period was followed by the emergence of “unrestrained eaters”, who have “normal” eating behaviors versus “restrained eaters”, who are normal-weight individuals with similar eating behavioral patterns than those of obese people [2]. After this first observation, the definition of a “restrained eater” has developed and came into a consensus: it describes someone who constantly deliberately controls his food intake in order to maintain or lose weight [3]. This person could have a normal bodyweight, be overweight or even obese and the dietary control could be efficient or ineffective [4]. Here, the intention to control food intake is the main characteristic. It is not surprising that CR is most often identified in individuals Abstract