The effects of short-term food deprivation on caloric intake in eating-disordered subjects.

The primary aim of this experimental investigation was to examine the effects of short-term dietary restriction on caloric consumption in eating disordered subjects. Subjects with bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and overweight non-eating disordered subjects, attended a laboratory experiment during which they were randomly assigned to either a 1 h or a 6 h food deprivation condition prior to being served a multi-item buffet. The primary measure of interest was calories consumed during the laboratory experiment. Subjects deprived of food for 6 h consumed significantly more calories at the buffet compared to subjects in the 1 h food deprivation condition. However, caloric intake during the entire laboratory day was not affected by the experimental manipulation. Subjects in the longer deprivation condition apparently compensated at the buffet for the caloric restriction, but did not overcompensate.