Self-Regulation and the Obesity Epidemic

Social Issues and Policy Review

Volumn 5, Issue 1, 2011, Pages 37-69

  Herman, C Peter ^a   Polivy, Janet ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO   (Canada)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 83655197854     PISSN: 17512395     EISSN: 17512409     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-2409.2011.01025.x     Document Type: Article

References (96)

1. Aaron, J. I., Evans, R. E., & Mela, D. J. (1995). Paradoxical effects of a nutrition labelling scheme in a student cafeteria. Nutrition Research, 15, 1251-1261.
2. Baumeister, R. F., Bratslavsky, E., Muraven, M., & Tice, D.M. (1998). Ego depletion: Is the active self a limited resource? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74, 1252-1265.
3. Baumeister, R. F., Heatherton, T. F., & Tice, D. M. (1994). Losing control: How and why people fail at self-regulation. New York Academic Press.
4. Baumeister, R. F., Vohs, K. D., & Tice, D. M. (2007). The strength model of self-control. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 16, 351-355.
5. Brownell, K. D., & Friedan, T. R. (2009). Ounces of prevention-The public policy case for taxes on sugared beverages. The New England Journal of Medicine, 360, 1805-1808.
6. Brownell, K. D., & Horgen, K. B. (2004). Food fight: The inside story of the food industry, America's obesity crisis, and what we can do about it. New York The McGraw-Hill Companies.
7. Brownell, K. D., Schwartz, M. B., Puhl, R. M., Henderson, K. E., & Harris, J. L. (2009). The need for bold action to prevent adolescent obesity. Journal of Adolescent Health, 45, S8-S17.
8. Caballero, B. (2007). The global epidemic of obesity: An overview. Epidemiological Reviews, 29, 1-5.
9. Carpenter, K. M., Hasin, D. S., Allsion, D. B., & Faith, M. S. (2000). Relationships between obesity and DSM-IV major depressive disorder, suicide ideation, and suicide attempts: Results from a general population study. American Journal of Public Health, 90, 251-257.
10. Christaskis, N. A., & Fowler, J. H. (2007). The spread of obesity in a large social network over 32 years. New England Journal of Medicine, 357, 370-379.
11. Christaskis, N. A., & Fowler, J. H. (2009). Connected: The surprising power of our social networks and how they shape our lives. New York: Little, Brown & Company.
12. Clarkson, J. J., Hirt, E. R., Jia, L., & Alexander, M. B. (2010). When perception is more than reality: The effects of perceived versus actual resource depletion on self-regulatory behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 98, 29-46.
13. Cohen, D. A. (2008). Obesity and the built environment: changes in environmental cues cause energy imbalances. International Journal of Obesity, 32, S137-S142.
14. Crandall, C. S. (1994). Prejudice against fat people: Ideology and self-interest. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 66, 882-894.
15. Diaz, V. A., Mainous, A. G., & Everett, C. J. (2005). The association between weight fluctuation and mortality: Results from a population-based cohort study. Journal of Community Health, 30, 153-165.
16. Dobson, P. W., & Gerstner, E. (2010). For a few cents more: Why supersize unhealthy food Marketing Science, 29, 770-778.
17. Drewnowski, A., & Specter, S. E. (2004) Poverty and obesity: The role of energy density and energy costs. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 79, 6-16.
18. Elbel, B., Gyamfi, J., & Kersh, R. (2011). Child and adolescent fast-food choice and the influence of calorie labeling: A natural experiment. International Journal of Obesity, 35, 493-500, doi:.
19. Elbel, B., Kersh, R., Brescoll, V. L., & Dixon, L. B. (2009). Calorie labeling and food choices: A first look at the effects on low-income people in New York City. Health Affairs (online), 28, w1110-w1121.
20. Epstein, L. H., & Wrotniak, B. H. (2010). Future directions for pediatric obesity treatment. Obesity, 18, S8-S12.
21. Faith, M., Fontaine, K. R., Baskin, M. L., & Allison, D. B. (2007). Toward the reduction of population obesity: Macrolevel environmental approaches to the problems of food, eating, and obesity. Psychological Bulletin, 133, 205-226.
22. Feinleib, M., Kannel, W. B., Garrison, R. J., McNamara, P. M., & Castelli, W. P. (1975). The Framingham Offspring Study: Design and preliminary data. Preventive Medicine, 4, 518-525.
23. Flegal, K. M. (2005). Epidemiological aspects of overweight and obesity in the United States. Physiology & Behavior, 86, 599-602.
24. Flegal, K. M., Carroll, M. D., Ogden, C. L., & Curtin, L. R. (2010). Prevalence and trends in obesity among US adults, 1999-2008. Journal of the American Medical Association, 303, 235-241.
25. Flegal, K. M., Graubard, B. I., Williamson, D. F., & Gail, M. H. (2005). Excess deaths associated with underweight, overweight, and obesity. Journal of the American Medical Association, 293, 1861-1867.
26. Flegal, K. M., & Troiano, R. P. (2000). Changes in the distribution of body mass index of adults and children in the US population. International Journal of Obesity and Related Metabolic Disorders, 24, 807-818.
27. Friese, M., Hofmann, W., & Wänke, M. (2008). When impulses take over: Moderated predictive validity of implicit and explicit attitude measures in predicting food choice and consumption behavior. British Journal of Social Psychology, 47, 397-419.
28. Gailliot, M. T., & Baumeister, R. F. (2007). The physiology of willpower: Linking blood glucose to self-control. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 11, 303-327.
29. Girz, L., Polivy, J., Herman, C. P., & Lee, H. (in press). The effects of calorie information on food selection and intake. International Journal of Obesity.
30. Hacker, J. S., Huber, G. A., Rehm, P., Schlesinger, M., & Valetta, R. (2010). Economic security at risk: Findings from the Economic Security Index. New York: The Rockefeller Foundation.
31. Harnack, L. J., French, S. A., Oakes, J. M., Story, M. T., Jeffrey, R. W., & Rydell, S. A. (2008). Effects of calorie labeling and value size pricing on fast food meal choices: Results from an experimental trial. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 5, 63.
32. Harris, J. L., Bargh, J. A., & Brownell, K. D. (2009). Priming effects of television food advertising on eating behavior. Health Psychology, 28, 404-413.
33. Harris, J. L., Brownell, K. D., & Bargh, J. A. (2009). The food marketing defense model: Integrating psychological research to protect youth and inform public policy. Social Issues and Policy Review, 3, 211-271.
34. Heatherton, T. F., Polivy, J., & Herman, C. P. (1991). Restraint, weight loss, and variability of body weight. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 100, 78-83.
35. Hebl, M. R., & Mannix, L. M. (2003). The weight of obesity in evaluating others: A mere proximity effect. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 29, 28-38.
36. Herman, C. P., & Polivy, J. (1996). What does abnormal eating tell us about normal eating? In H. Meiselman & H. MacFie (Eds.), Food Choice, acceptance, and consumption (pp. 207-238). London Blackie Academic & Professional.
37. Herman, C. P., & Polivy, J. (2005). Normative influences on food intake. Physiology & Behavior, 86, 762-772.
38. Herman, C. P., & Polivy, J. (2011). The self-regulation of eating: Theoretical and practical problems. In K. D. Vohs & R. F. Baumeister (Eds.), Handbook of self-regulation: Research, theory, and applications(2nd ed., pp. 522-536). New York Guilford.
39. Herman, C. P., Roth, D. A., & Polivy, J. (2003). Effects of the presence of others on food intake: A normative interpretation. Psychological Bulletin, 129, 873-886.
40. Heymsfield, S. B., Harp, J. B., Reitman, M. L., Beetsch, J. W., Schoeller, D. A., Erondu, N., et al (2007). Why do obese patients not lose more weight when treated with low-calorie diets? A mechanistic perspective. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 85, 346-54.
41. Higgins, E. T. (1998). Promotion and prevention: Regulatory focus as a motivational principle. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 46, 1-46.
42. Hofmann, W., Friese, M., & Strack, F. (2009). Impulse and self-control from a dual-systems perspective. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 4, 162-176.
43. Hofmann, W., Rauch, W., & Gawronski, B. (2007). And deplete us not into temptation: Automatic attitudes, dietary restraint, and self-regulatory resources as determinants of eating behavior. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 43, 497-504.
44. H.R. 3962, Section 2572. (2010). Affordable health care for American Act. Retrieved October 21, 2011, from .
45. Kahan, D., Polivy, J., & Herman, C. P. (2003). Conformity and dietary disinhibition: A test of the ego-strength model of self-regulation. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 33, 165-171.
46. Kaplan, H. I., & Kaplan, H. S. (1957). The psychosomatic concept of obesity. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 125, 181-189.
47. Keith, S. W., Redden, D. T., Katzmarzyk, P. T., Boggiano, M. M., Hanlon, E. C., Benca, R. M., et al (2006). Putative contributors to the secular increase in obesity: Exploring the roads less traveled. International Journal of Obesity, 30, 1585-1594.
48. Keys, A., Brozek, J., Henschel, A., Mickelsen, O., & Taylor, H.L. (1950). The biology of human starvation. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.
49. Kivimäki, M., Head, J., Ferrie, J.E., Shipley, M.J., Brunner, E., Vahtera, J., et al (2006). "Work stress, weight gain and weight loss: Evidence for bidirectional effects of job strain on Body Mass Index in the Whitehall II Study." International Journal of Obesity, 30, 982-987.
50. Kolata, G. (2010). Whether a child lights up, or chows down. New York Times online, July 9, 2010.
51. Leone, T., Pliner, P., & Herman, C. P. (2007). Influence of clear versus ambiguous normative information on food intake. Appetite, 49, 58-65.
52. Levitsky, D. A., & DeRosimo, L. (2010). One day of food restriction does not result in an increase in subsequent daily food intake in humans. Physiology & Behavior, 99, 495-499.
53. Loewenstein, G. (1996). Out of control: Visceral influences on behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 65, 272-292.
54. Ludwig, D. L., & Brownell, K. D. (2009). Public health action amid scientific uncertainty: The case of restaurant calorie labeling regulations. Journal of the American Medical Association, 302, 434-435.
55. MacLean, L., Edwards, N., Garrard, M., Sims-Jones, N., Clinton, K., & Ashley, L. (2009). Obesity, stigma, ands public health planning. Health Promotion International, 24, 88-93.
56. Mankiw, N. G. (2010). Can a soda tax save us from ourselves? New York Times, June 4.
57. McAllister, E. J., Dhurandhar, N. V., Keith, S. W., Aronne, L. J., Barger, J., Baskin, M., et al. (2009). Ten putative contributors to the obesity epidemic. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 49, 868-913.
58. McKinley, J. (2010). Citing obesity of children, county bans fast-food toys. New York Times, April 27.
59. Mischel, W., & Ayduk, O. (2004). Willpower in a cognitive-affective processing system: The dynamics of delay of gratification. In R. F. Baumeister & K. D. Vohs (Eds.), Handbook of self-regulation: Research, theory, and applications (pp. 99-129). New York Guilford.
60. Mischel, W., Cantor, N., & Feldman, S. (1996). Principles of self-regulation: The nature of willpower and self-control. In E. T. Higgins & A. W. Kruglanski (Eds.), Social psychology: Handbook of basic principles (pp. 329-360). New York Guilford Press.
61. Myslobodsky, M. & Ingraham, L. J. (2009). Managing the pandemic of obesity: Siding with the fox or the hedgehog. Obesity Facts, 2, 384-392.
62. Neuman, W. (2010). Ad rules stall, keeping cereal a cartoon staple. New York Times, July 23.
63. Norcross, J. C., Ratzin, A. C., & Payne, D. (1989). Ringing in the New Year: The change processes and reported outcomes of resolutions. Addictive Behaviors, 14, 205-212.
64. Ogden, C. L., Carroll, M. D., Curtin, L. R., Lamb, M. M., & Flegal, K. M. (2010). Prevalence of high body mass index in US children and adolescents, 2007-2008. Journal of the American Medical Association, 303, 242-249.
65. Pliner, P., Bell, R., Hirsch, E. S., & Kinchla, M. (2006). Meal duration mediates the effect of "social facilitation" on eating in humans. Appetite, 46, 189-198.
66. Polivy, J., & Herman, C. P. (1985). Dieting as a problem in behavioral medicine. In E. S. Katkin & S. B. Manuck (Eds.), Advances in behavioral medicine (Vol. 1, pp. 1-37). Greenwich, CT JAI.
67. Polivy, J., & Herman, C. P. (2002). If at first you don't succeed: False hopes of self-change. American Psychologist, 57, 677-689.
68. Provencher, V., Polivy, J., & Herman, C. P. (2009). Impact of perceived healthiness of food on intake: If it's healthy, you can eat more! Appetite, 52, 340-344.
69. Puhl, R. M., & Heuer, C. A. (2010). Obesity stigma: Important considerations for public health. American Journal of Public Health, 100, 1019-1028.
70. Puhl, R. M., Schwartz, M. B., & Brownell, K. D. (2005). Impact of perceived consensus on stereotypes about obese people: A new approach for reducing bias. Health Psychology, 24, 517-525.
71. Rabin, C. (2010). Baby fat may not be so cute after all. New York Times, March 22.
72. Raja, S., Yin, L., Roemmich, J., Ma, C., Epstein, L., Yadav, P., et al. (2010). Food environment, built environment, and Women's BMI: Evidence from Erie County, New York. Journal of Planning and Education Research, 29, 444-460.
73. Roberto, C. A., Larsen, P. D., Agnew, H., Baik, J., & Brownell, K. D. (2010). Evaluating the impact of menu labeling on food choices and intake. American Journal of Public Health, 100, 312-318.
74. Rolls, B. J. (2003). The supersizing of America: portion size and the obesity epidemic. Nutrition Today, 38, 42-53.
75. Rolls, B. J., Morris, E. L., & Roe, L. S. (2002). Portion size of food affects energy intake in normal-weight and overweight men and women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 76, 1207-1213.
76. Rosenbloom, P. (2010). Calorie data to be posted at most chains. New York Times, March 23.
77. Schachter, S., Goldman, R., & Gordon, A. (1968). Effects of fear, food deprivation, and obesity on eating. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 10, 91-97.
78. Sherry, B., Blanck, H. M., Galuska, D. A., Pan, L., & Dietz, W. H. (2010). State-Specific Obesity Prevalence Among Adults - United States, 2009. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, August 3.
79. Sims, E. A. H., Goldman, R. F., Gluck, C. M., Horton, E. S., Kelleher, P. C. & Rowe, D. W. (1968). Experimental obesity in man. Transactions of the Association of American Physicians, 81, 153-169.
80. Stein, R. (January 13, 2010). Obesity epidemic slows. Washington Post. Retrived at: .
81. Stok, F. M., de Ridder, D. T. D., Adriaanse, M. A., & de Wit, J. B. F. (2010). Looking cool or attaining self-rule: Different motives for autonomy and their effects on unhealthy snack purchase. Appetite, 54, 607-610.
82. Stroebe, W. (2008). Dieting, overweight, and obesity: Self-regulation in a food-rich environment. Washington, DC American Psychological Association Press.
83. Stroebe, W., Mensink, W., Aarts, H., Schut, H., & Kruglanski, A. W. (2008). Why dieters fail: Testing the goal conflict model of eating. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 44, 26-36.
84. Stuart, R. B. (1967). Behavioral control of overeating. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 5, 357-365.
85. Sturm, R., Powell, L. M., Chriqui, J. F., & Chaloupka, F. J. (2010). Soda taxes, soft drink consumption, and children's Body Mass Index. Health Affairs, 29, 1052-1058.
86. Urban, L. E., Dallal, G. E., Robinson, L. M., Ausman, L. M., Saltzman, E., & Roberts, S. B. (2010). The accuracy of stated energy contents of reduced-energy, commercially prepared foods. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 110, 116-123.
87. Viner, R. M., Roche, E., Maguire, S. A., & Nicholls, D. E. (2010). Childhood protection and obesity: Framework for practice. British Medical Journal, 341, 375-377.
88. Vohs, K. D., & Heatherton, T. F. (2000). Self-regulatory failure: A resource-depletion approach. Psychological Science, 11, 249-254.
89. Wansink, B. (1996). Can package size accelerate usage volume? Journal of Marketing, 60, 1-14.
90. Wansink, B. (2004). Environmental factors that increase the food intake and consumption volume of unknowing consumers. Annual Review of Nutrition, 24, 455-479.
91. Wansink, B. (2010). From mindless eating to mindlessly eating better. Physiology & Behavior, 100, 454-463.
92. Wansink, B., & Van Ittersum, K. (2007). Portion size me: Downsizing our consumption norms. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 107, 1103-1106.
93. Wisdom, J., Downs, J. S., Loewenstein, G., & Wansink, B. (2009). The impact of menu labeling at fast food restaurants in New York City. Unpublished manuscript.
94. Wisman, J. D. & Capehart, K. W. (2010). Creative destruction, economic insecurity, stress, and the obesity epidemic. American Journal of Economics and Sociology, 69, 936-982.
95. Yach, D., Stuckler, D., & Brownell, K. D. (2006). Epidemiologic and economic consequences of the global epidemics of obesity and diabetes. Nature Medicine, 12, 62-66.
96. Yang, C. C. & Chiou, W. B. (2010). Substitution of healthy for unhealthy beverages among college students: A health-concerns and behavioral-economics perspective. Appetite, 54, 512-516.