Grazing is a human eating pattern characterized as "the repetitive eating of small or modest amounts of food in an unplanned manner throughout a period of time, and not in response to hunger or satiety cues". [1]
Two subtypes of grazing have been suggested: compulsive and non-compulsive. Compulsive grazing is accompanied by the feeling that the person is not able to resist going back to repetitively snack on the desired food. Non‐compulsive grazing is repetitively eating in a distracted and mindless way, without paying much attention to what is eaten. [1] [2]
The term "grazing" has been widely used by the general population in reference to a repetitive eating pattern. The scientific literature began to investigate this concept because of its extensive use and apparent association with weight gain. [3] [4] Several terms such as picking, nibbling, and snacking have been used indiscriminately in the literature to characterize grazing-type patterns of repetitive eating in humans. [1] [2] [5] In 2014, Eva Conceição and colleagues proposed a consensual definition for grazing based on the opinion of various experts in the field. [1]
Grazing seems to be related to loss of control over eating and can be conceptualized on the spectrum of disordered eating behaviors. [2] It is considered as a risk behavior for adults undergoing weight loss treatment [1] [2] [5] [6] [7] due to its associations with Body Mass Index and a great variability on weight-loss trajectories after bariatric surgery. [8] It is thought to be present in up to 26.4% of bariatric patients pre‐operatively [9] and in 46.6% after bariatric surgery. [10] Specifically, compulsive grazing appears to be linked to eating disorder psychopathology.
The repetitive eating questionnaire (Rep(eat)-Q) is a 12-item self-report measure developed by Conceição, E. and colleagues to assess grazing eating patterns in adolescents and adults. [1] [6] [11]
The Rep(eat)-Q is based on the consensual definition proposed by the authors and generates two subscales: 1) repetitive eating, and 2) compulsive grazing. [6] Respondents rate the frequency of grazing eating behaviors in the previous month using a Likert scale ranging from 0 (never) to 6 (every day). Scores are calculated as the mean of the scale items and the total Rep(eat)-Q score can range from 0 to 6. The Rep(eat)-Q is worded in English, [1] Portuguese (European and Brazilian), [6] and Norwegian. [12]
Grazing is a human eating pattern characterized as "the repetitive eating of small or modest amounts of food in an unplanned manner throughout a period of time, and not in response to hunger or satiety cues". [1]
Two subtypes of grazing have been suggested: compulsive and non-compulsive. Compulsive grazing is accompanied by the feeling that the person is not able to resist going back to repetitively snack on the desired food. Non‐compulsive grazing is repetitively eating in a distracted and mindless way, without paying much attention to what is eaten. [1] [2]
The term "grazing" has been widely used by the general population in reference to a repetitive eating pattern. The scientific literature began to investigate this concept because of its extensive use and apparent association with weight gain. [3] [4] Several terms such as picking, nibbling, and snacking have been used indiscriminately in the literature to characterize grazing-type patterns of repetitive eating in humans. [1] [2] [5] In 2014, Eva Conceição and colleagues proposed a consensual definition for grazing based on the opinion of various experts in the field. [1]
Grazing seems to be related to loss of control over eating and can be conceptualized on the spectrum of disordered eating behaviors. [2] It is considered as a risk behavior for adults undergoing weight loss treatment [1] [2] [5] [6] [7] due to its associations with Body Mass Index and a great variability on weight-loss trajectories after bariatric surgery. [8] It is thought to be present in up to 26.4% of bariatric patients pre‐operatively [9] and in 46.6% after bariatric surgery. [10] Specifically, compulsive grazing appears to be linked to eating disorder psychopathology.
The repetitive eating questionnaire (Rep(eat)-Q) is a 12-item self-report measure developed by Conceição, E. and colleagues to assess grazing eating patterns in adolescents and adults. [1] [6] [11]
The Rep(eat)-Q is based on the consensual definition proposed by the authors and generates two subscales: 1) repetitive eating, and 2) compulsive grazing. [6] Respondents rate the frequency of grazing eating behaviors in the previous month using a Likert scale ranging from 0 (never) to 6 (every day). Scores are calculated as the mean of the scale items and the total Rep(eat)-Q score can range from 0 to 6. The Rep(eat)-Q is worded in English, [1] Portuguese (European and Brazilian), [6] and Norwegian. [12]