Authors: Kelly M. Vitousek¹; Frederic P. Manke¹; Jennifer A. Gray¹; Maren N. Vitousek²

Source: European Eating Disorders Review, Volume 12, Number 6, November 2004 , pp. 338-360(23)

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Abstract:

Research on caloric restriction for longevity (CRL) has generated hundreds of articles on the physiology of food deprivation, yet almost no data on consequences in other domains. The first paper in this series outlined the generally positive physical effects of CRL; the second analyses the meagre and sometimes disturbing record of research on behaviour, cognition and affect. The available evidence suggests that nutrient-dense CRL in animals—just like nutrient-poor semi-starvation in people—is associated with a number of adverse effects. Changes include abnormal food-related behaviour, heightened aggression and diminished sexual activity. Studies of learning and memory in underfed rodents yield inconsistent findings; no information is available on cognitive effects in primates. To date, the CRL field has ignored other variables that are crucial to the human case and known to be disrupted by chronic hunger, including sociability, curiosity and emotionality. Promotion of CRL for people is irresponsible in the absence of more reassuring data on the full range of expected outcomes. Eating disorder specialists should be contributing to scientific and public discussions of this increasingly prominent paradigm. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

Keywords: dietary restriction; ageing; eating disorders; semi-starvation; hunger; animal aggression; mimetics

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/erv.604

Affiliations: 1: University of Hawaii, USA 2: Princeton University, USA

Publication date: 2004-11-01

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