Abstract

DIAZ, Felipe et al. Food-deprivation and Bing-eating in Rats. Acta de investigación psicol [online]. 2011, vol.1, n.1, pp.149-164. ISSN 2007-4719.

It has been shown that after periods of food-deprivation rats will consume more food than usual. This is called binge-eating because it is related to eating disorders in humans like bulimia. However, it is unknown if the order of exposure to food-deprivation periods, ascending or descending, affects binge-eating. The effect of the duration of food-deprivation periods and the order of exposure to those ascending or descending periods, on weight, food and water intake was explored using rats as subjects. Weight variations and food and water intake were compared to those during free-food access. Short durations of food-deprivation varied between one and four hours while long durations varied between 20 and 23 hours. It was found that weight increased regardless of the duration of the food-deprivation intervals. Food-intake was lower during the food-deprivation conditions than during the free access condition. Water-intake followed the same pattern than food-intake. Results suggest that regardless of the order of exposure to food-deprivation periods food intake is excessive relative to the free-food access condition.

Keywords : Eating behavior; Anorexia; Bulimia; Binge-eating; Rats.