Adherence
Chronic thwarting of basic psychological needs (autonomy, competence, relatedness) drives disordered eating through the adoption of 'need substitutes' (e.g., thin-ideal) and 'compensatory behaviors' (e.g., rigid restriction or binge eating).
If you are struggling with rigid dieting or binge eating, look beyond the food itself. Ask if your current approach is making you feel controlled, incompetent, or isolated. Sustainable change comes from satisfying these psychological needs—by choosing foods that align with your values (autonomy), feeling capable of managing your intake (competence), and feeling supported by others (relatedness)—rather than imposing strict, external rules that likely trigger compensatory behaviors.
When people chronically fail to have the three basic psychological needs met, they develop strategies to deal with this psychological deficit. Two maladaptive coping responses discussed within SDT involve the development of need substitutes and the engagement in compensatory behaviors.
Why this rating
The paper is a review of observational and correlational studies; it cites empirical support but does not present new primary experimental data.
Source
Motivational dynamics of eating regulation: a self-determination theory perspective
Joke Verstuyf et al. · International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity · 2012
DOI 10.1186/1479-5868-9-21
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