Study: Cheat Meals Are Associated With Eating Disorder Behaviours

Toronto [Canada]: According to a new study, more than half of men, women, and transgender or gender nonconforming participants consumed at least one “cheat meal” over the course of a year, which is the practice of deviating from one’s established dietary practices to consume “prohibited” calorie dense meals, only to return to previous dietary practices later.

Eating Disorders

The findings of the study were published in the journal Eating Disorders. Among women, engagement in cheat meals in the previous 12 months was associated with all seven types of eating disorder behaviors. Among men, it was associated with binge-eating, compulsive exercise, and fasting behaviors. Finally, among transgender or gender non-conforming participants, it was associated with overeating and binge-eating behaviors.

Eating Behavior

“Research hasn’t fully explored eating behaviors purported to increase muscularity and leanness, such as cheat meals,” says lead author Kyle T. Ganson, Ph.D., MSW, assistant professor at the University of Toronto’s Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work. “This is particularly important given the popularity of these meals that are well documented on social media. We needed to explore whether there are associations between cheat meals and eating disorder psychopathology.”

Ganson and his colleagues analyzed a national sample of over 2,700 adolescents and young adults from the 2021-2022 Canadian Study of Adolescent Health Behaviours.

Cheat Meals

Their findings also revealed that engagement in cheat meals was highest among men.

“Cheat meals have been conceptualized and promoted within men’s muscle-building and fitness communities. As a result, men in this study may be strategically using these meals to catalyze muscle growth,” says Ganson.

“Similarly, among women, the use of these meals may be used to prevent or curtail binge-eating episodes or alleviate cravings for restricted foods.”

While cheat meals consisted of calorie-dense foods across the entire sample, significant differences were found between the types of these meals consumed by men and women. Specifically, men reported consuming foods higher in protein, whereas women consumed dairy, salty, and sweet foods.

“Clinical professionals should be aware of the common occurrence of these meals among adolescents and young adults and the sanctioned nature of these behaviors in fitness communities and on social media,” says Ganson.

“Future research should continue to conceptualize these types of eating behaviors and their implications for public health.”