Cognitive restraint directed at carbohydrates in individuals on low-carb diet with binge eating: the role of guilt about food cravings

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the carbohydrate-restricted diet leads to higher levels of food cravings in individuals with binge eating. METHODS: A total of 146 individuals with binge eating participated in the Low-Carb Diet Group (n=48) and Control Group (n=98). The Binge Eating Scale, Hay’s questionnaire, Food Cravings Questionnaire - Trait and State, Cognitive restraint subscale and its adapted version for the cognitive restraint toward carbohydrates, were used as measures. Parametric tests were used for comparison between groups (Student’s t test), and Pearson’s correlation test to verify correlations between variables of interest. RESULTS: No differences were found between groups with and without diet concerning the level of binge eating or food craving total score. The differences found were the higher levels of cognitive restraint (p=0.01), cognitive restraint for carbohydrates (p=0.01) and subscales of ‘guilt about food craving’ (p=0.04) in the Low-Carb Diet Group. CONCLUSION: Individuals with binge eating and a history of low-carb diet have greater cognitive restraint toward carbohydrates and association with altered eating attitudes (guilt about food craving).