Inhibition of binge eating by changes of feeding context

Abstract

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of a change in context on inhibition in the incidence of binge eating. Eighteen experimentally naive Wistar rats were used and were divided into three groups. Each group began with a free access period of fifteen days and three days of food deprivation. The first experimental group was deprived in a different context than that of its home box and returned to it for a free access period of 15 days. The second group was deprived in its home box and placed in a different context with free access for 3 days post-deprivation and later returned to its home box for 12 days. The control group did not change context in any period. The results showed that the change in context modified food intake during post-deprivation period. The incidence of binge eating was inhibited by the change in context.