Skip to main content
. 2023 May 25;15(11):2466. doi: 10.3390/nu15112466

Table 3.

Characteristics of the typology of restrictive dietary practice (RDP).

I. The Holistically Restraining Type II. The Dissonant-Savoring Restraining Type III. The Reactively Restraining Type IV. The Unintentionally Restraining Type
(1) Practical implementation of RDP
  • -

    Long-term, internalized habitual practice of RDP;

  • -

    “Ascetic” in terms of certain foods (vegetarian) or amount of energy (low-calorie-days);

  • -

    within a certain timeframe (intermittent fasting).
  • -

    General tendency towards RDP;

  • -

    Flexible practice;

  • -

    Exceptions of RDP for the enjoyment of food.
  • -

    Restriction of specific foods or food components.
  • -

    Minor/no conscious restrictive practice;

  • -

    Food choice that excludes foods due to, e.g., preference or habits.
(2) Attitude towards RDP
  • -

    Benefits regarding health and wellbeing

  • -

    Individual Integration of RDP

  • -

    Positive, based on personal experience and attribution of benefits concerning wellbeing and health;

  • -

    RDP evokes no emotional constraint;

  • -

    Conviction and integration of a holistic concept of life (includes RDP regarding foods considered unhealthy).
  • -

    Positive, based on personal experience and attribution of benefits concerning wellbeing and health;

  • -

    Perception of health benefits (primary prevention: avoidance of physical illness);

  • -

    Distancing from rigid RDPs as a threat to quality of life;

  • -

    Desire to maintain freedom of (food) choice;

  • -

    Enjoyment competes with reason;

  • -

    Orientation towards a healthy diet (balanced, not a specific philosophy or trend).
  • -

    Positive;

  • -

    Perception of specific health benefits (e.g., regarding secondary prevention: reversal of or overcoming disease);

  • -

    Distinction to practice based on (internalized) rule.

  • -

    Questioning of benefits;

  • -

    Vague readiness to adopt a RDP if recommended by authorities (e.g., government/physician).

(3) Motives for RDP
  • -

    Health/wellbeing: central motives

  • -

    Weight control: central motive

  • -
    Environmental aspects: central motives:

    -

    • -
      Avoidance of pesticides, preservation of resources;
    • -
      Rejection of meat production; consideration of animal welfare;
  • -

    Health/wellbeing: Central motives (primary prevention; avoidance of physical illness);

  • -

    Weight Control: central motive;

  • -

    Environmental aspects: secondary motive.
  • -

    Health: (secondary prevention, reversal, or stop of physical illness, extrinsic motive (e.g., recommended by physician);

  • -

    Weight control: central motive;

  • -

    Environmental aspects: not addressed.
  • -

    Health (avoidance of strongly hazardous when officially recommended);

  • -

    Weight control and environmental aspects: not addressed;
(4) Barriers towards RDP
  • -

    Enjoyment of food.

  • -

    However, reflection and control of circumstances (e.g., availability of foods);

  • -

    Exceptions of restrictive practice not considered as failure, but deliberate (e.g,. Social events).
  • -

    Enjoyment of food;

  • -

    Psychological health and quality of life are threatened by rigid dietary restraint;

  • -

    Essential need for freedom/spontaneity.
  • -

    Enjoyment of food;

  • -

    Pressure to follow rigid rules of RDP perceived as counter-productive.
  • -

    No perception of a barrier (no primary intention to restrain); enjoyment excludes the possibility of restraining from foods;

  • -

    Dietary routine that excludes foods not included in habitual food choice.