Articles

Effect of fasting on eating behavior in college students

Fasting effect on eating behavior in university students

Maria of the Carmen Barragan Carmona, Antonio López-Espinoza, Alma

Gabriela Martínez Moreno, Patricia Lopez-Uriarte, Virginia Gabriela Aguilera
Cervantes, José Guadalupe Salazar Estrada and Berenice Sánchez Knight

Center for research on dietary behavior and nutrition (CICAN) CU South, University of
Guadalajara, Mexico.

Correspondence:
Dr. Antonio Lopez-espinoza,
Center for research on dietary behavior and nutrition (CICAN).
Centro Universitario del Sur, Universidad de Guadalajara, Mexico.
AV. Enrique Arreola Silva No. 883 Col. Centro, C.P. 49000,
CD. Guzman, municipality of Zapotlán el Grande, Jalisco,
E-mail: carmen_barragan@live.com; antonio.lopez@cusur.udg.mx

Received: 12/03/2014;
Revised: 02/03/2014;
Accepted: 30/11/2014;

Overview

The scientific evidence on the characterization of eating points out that situations of
deprivation of food, such as fasting, increase the value of food and change the food
pattern. Consequently increases the consumption of food and therefore calorie
consumption. The situation is exacerbated when food favorite after the period of
deprivation are unhealthy or are consumed in excess become detonators of health
problems (Capaldi, 1993;) Gottschalk, Libby & Graff, 2000; Velez & Garcia, 2003). A
study in which nine young university students who were classified according to their
index of Corporal mass (IMC) was designed with the objective of evaluating the effect
of fasting on the calorie consumption and changing food preferences, in three groups:
low, Normo-weight and Sobre-peso. They were presented during the baseline to eight
different foods. During the experimental phase was exposed to the same participants
to a period of fasting and then to the same foods registering their consumption. The
results showed that the calorie consumption and preference among foods were
modified. The low Group increased their consumption of food while that decreased it in
both Normo-weight and Sobre-peso groups.

Keywords: BMI, fasting, food preferences, calorie consumption.

Abstract

Scientific evidence on the characterization of eating behavior indicates that food

deprivation situations, such as fasting, the food value increases and alter the feeding
pattern. Consequently food consumption increases and therefore caloric intake. The
situation worsens when after to deprivation period the preferred foods are unhealthy or
consumed in excess becoming tiggers for health problems (Capaldi, 1993;) Gottschalk,
Libby & Graff, 2000; Velez & Garcia, 2003). The aim of this study was to evaluate the
effect of fasting on caloric intake and changing food preferences. This study was
conducted with the participation of 9 university students who were classified according
to their Body Mass Index (BMI) into three groups: Low-weight, Normo-weight and
Over-weight. At the baseline participants were exposed to eight different foods. Same
participants during the experimental phase were exposed to a period of fasting,
subsequently were exposed to the same foods and their consumption record. Results
showed that caloric intake and food preferences were altered after the fasting
condition, differential effects among participants were observed. Low-weight group
increased their food consumption while Normal-weight and Over-weight groups
decreased.

Key words: BMI, fasting, food preferences, caloric intake.

Introduction

Humans are omnivorous, which is why it has to explore, discover and learn about the
characteristics of their food sources: odor, color, flavor, aroma and texture and to
identify those foods that altogether or individually cause well-being, satiety or
satisfaction. This learning has allowed to acquire food preferences based on
experience, these preferences are called "learned preferences". Additionally, otherwise
there is innate calls "Preferences" to be genetically determined. Both are reinforced by
the social and family environment (Bourges-Rodriguez, 1995;) Rozin, 1995).

The majority of studies carried out in relation to food preferences are based on animal
models, mainly focusing on the learning of them. On the other hand, investigations in
humans are so varied that they are hard (Garcia & Bach, 1999). Important knowledge
have been obtained in this field of study, one of them was to identify which low
deprivation of food, as fasting, the value of food increases and food pattern is
changed, therefore food consumption increases and by Thus the calorie consumption.
This situation may be complicated when food favorite after the period of deprivation
are not healthy or are consumed in excess and can cause health problems (Capaldi,
1993;) Gottschalk, Libby & Graff, 2000; Velez & Garcia, 2003).

The definition of fasting may vary when this is conceptualized from different areas, so
the concept of the Diccionario de la Real Academia Española defines the verb fast as
abstinence from all food and drink from midnight the previous night) Mijan, of Matthew
& Pérez, 2004; Soto & Garcia, 2000). From the medical point of view is defined as the
situation where the body when ingested food has gone through digestive processes
and has been metabolized by the cell (Soto & Garcia, 2000;) Navarro, Garcia-luna,
2010). On the other hand, the nutritional concept considers fasting as the complete
cessation of food intake and the attainment of the survival through the use of stored
endogenous substrates (Gatica & Fernández, 1996). These concepts is considered a
constant, the main behavior that leads to the fasting State is deprivation of food.

There are four types of fasting: fasting voluntary, involuntary, the therapeutic and the
experimental. Voluntary fasting, is motivated by political or religious reasons, one
example is the practice of ramadan by Muslims, who absolutely restricted daytime
intake of water and food between 28 and 30 days; It is also possible to consider in this
type of fast strikes with hunger and dietary regimens because while these are usually
partial character, sometimes fasting is total (Hernandez-escalante & Laviada-Molina,
2014;) Jimenez, Ramirez, Ruiz, Sanchez & Villaverde, 2007;

Mataix & Pérez, 2002; Soto & Garcia, 2000). Involuntary fasting arises in situations of
war, disasters, and shipwrecks; due to lack of economic resources in the third world
populations and hospital situation by anorexia inherent in different pathological
processes such as: cancer of the esophagus, persistent diarrhoea, frequent vomiting or
in the postoperative period (Albero, Sanz &) Playan 2004; Mataix & Pérez,
2002). Therapeutic fasting, is used under medical supervision in morbid obesity,
gastritis acute or as a preoperative situation (Albero et al., 2004). Finally, the
experimental fast is a necessary condition in research on hunger, for physiological and
chemical observations of fasting, effects of low calorie diets, physiological changes and
dietary behavior, etc. (Benedict, 1915;) Cannon & Washburn, 1912; Russell, 2005).

Any of the types of fasting in particular conditions can lead to metabolic consequences,
since the metabolic processes that occur during fasting are not static, have as its main
objective the survival and depend on somefactors such as energy expenditure during
the deprivation, energy reserves, duration and if fasting is accompanied or not a
metabolic commitment e.g. a acute pathology (Lira, 2014;) Garcia & Rodriguez,
2013; Albero et al., 2004; Mijan et al., 2004).

Fasting starts 4 hours after the last intake of food, the digestion process is complete
and once you stop the flow of nutrients from the intestine, also known as postabsortivo
period. It is possible to consider fasting as the metabolic condition that occurs in the
morning, when not have been ingested food. Its duration is variable, since you can
extend from the end of the process of absorption of nutrients from the last meal to the
start of the next. At the start of the fast, a slow fall in blood glucose, occurs when the
glucose level reaches 75 mg/dl produced a decrease in the secretion of insulin and an
increase in the levels of glucagon and Catecholamines giving start the process of
glycogenolysis. Subsequently, the consumption of glucose in muscle and adipose tissue
and liver is reduced; However, the consumption of glucose is insured for the brain and
red blood cells, since the transport of glucose to these is not regulated by insulin (Lira,
2014;) Garcia & Rodriguez, 2013; Albero et al., 2004; O'Neal, 2003; Mijan, of Matthew
& Pérez, 2004; Soto & Garcia, 2000).

The consequences of fasting beyond the physiological process, under a condition of

fast food acquires a greater value to deny to a person or animal from it. Various
research with humans and animals have pointed out that the preference for a food
increases when it swallowed at the end of a State of deprivation (Bolles,
1972; Capaldi, 1993; Garcia & Bach, 1999; Gottschalk et al., 2000). With such
information, are could suggest that if a person skips meals or regularly goes through
periods of fasting, it is likely that by eating foods again, consume a greater amount of
these. Ortega, Redondo and López-Sobaler (1996) conducted a study with obese and
non-obese people who used to skip breakfast. The obese group presented a greater
preference for foods high in fat and sugar, while the non-obese chose preferably fruits,
juices and bread. This study showed the relationship between the omission of meals,
body composition and the preference for different types of food.

Another group which has investigated both the frequency and consequences of the
condition of fasting in the young, they experience a series of physiological and
emotional changes typical of the age, which in most cases coincides with the beginning
or course of any college career.

Remarkable is the physical and mental vulnerability of this population, since usually
the stage in which young people take responsibility of your diet and therefore, in which
to develop dietary habits that have importance in his style of power in
adulthood) Espinoza, Rodriguez, Galvez & Mc Millan, 2011; Polished, Colonel, Vera &
Barousse, 20011; Brook et al., 2006; Awake, Lopez, Bogataj, Kolenc & Pericol,
2005; Rufino & round, 2011). At this stage of life, some young people begin to acquire
and prepare their own food and therefore experiencing a change in the quantity and
quality of food consumed, as a result, young people may experience another type of
behavior - which also they tend to be characteristics of this age - that are not healthy
as: eat between meals, introduction and increase in the preference of food processed,
as well as frequent consumers of alcohol and tobacco (Brook et al., 2006;) San Pedro
Moreno et al., 2004; Tovar-Vargas, Vasquez-Cardoso & Bautista Muñoz, 2005).

The results of several studies that share the objective of evaluating the eating habits in
young populations, in particular University are different even contradictory results. An
example of this may be the study by Garcia Segovia and Martinez-Monzó (2002) at the
Polytechnic University of Valencia, where it was found that 79% of the students
remained fixed meals hours and carried out by Tovar-Vargas, et al., (2005) who They
described the eating habits of college students from the Pontificia Universidad
Javeriana in Colombia who on the contrary emphasize that young people have no fixed
meal times. Both results show that social and cultural characteristics of students differ
from one country to another, however, there are other aspects that prevail despite the
culture, in this last study identified also 12% of the population skips to the but one of
the main meals of the day. These data coincide with those obtained by Rodriguez and
Urquidez (2007) who conducted a study with the aim of identifying unhealthy eating
habits in university students in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua and whose findings revealed
that the unhealthy habit with more record was the omission of breakfast. Likewise, a
study conducted at the University of Sciences of health (CUCS) of the University of
Guadalajara, Mexico, reported that 40% of students not breakfast at home and those
who do outside it prefer tacos, pizza, fried burgers and shakes of milk with chocolate
and sugar for breakfast (Loera, 2008).
The data known about the habits and preferences of young people, as well as the
diversity of studies and methodologies that aim to describe specific characteristics in a
given population are undoubtedly important. However, as pointed out it is required
characterizations of different populations of young students to establish prevention
programmes aimed at maintaining healthy eating behaviors. In this sense, the present
study aims to assess the effect of fasting on the eating behavior of young university
students in the population of city Guzman Jalisco Mexico.

Method

Participants

Participaron 9 varones de entre 18 y 22 años, estudiantes de primer y segundo

semestre; 7 alumnos pertenecían a la carrera de Psicología y 2 a la carrera de
Nutrición del CU Sur de la Universidad de Guadalajara. Los participantes fueron
integrados de acuerdo a su IMC, a uno de tres posibles grupos, cada uno con tres
participantes que fueron nombrados: Bajo-peso, Normo-peso y Sobre-peso.

Aparatos y materiales

-Báscula de bioimpedandancia eléctrica marca TANITA mod. BC558.

-Estadímetro portátil marca SACA mod. 213 para la medición de peso y talla.

-Para la preparación de raciones de alimento se utilizó la cocineta del laboratorio

Ramón Turró del CICAN, en dicho laboratorio se utilizó para el pesado de raciones una
báscula TORREY mod. L-PCR40, adicionalmente se utilizaron tazas medidoras,
cucharas, cuchillos, etc.

Instrumentos

Cuestionario de selección de participantes: Se diseñó y aplicó un cuestionario de

selección cuyos reactivos tenían como única finalidad identificar que contaran con
buenos hábitos de alimentación y que no permanecieran en condición de ayuno
matutino frecuentemente. Los 12 ítems nos permitieron identificar a los participantes
que acostumbraban desayunar; a qué hora lo hacían; cuál era el horario de sus otras
comidas; la existencia de alergias alimentarias; irregularidades con sus niveles de
glucosa; presencia de acidez estomacal, finalmente, si existía algún tipo alimento que
les causará malestar (ver anexo).

Determinación del IMC: Se registró el peso y talla de cada uno de los participantes
utilizando la báscula de bioimpedandancia y el estadímetro portátil y posteriormente se
calculó el Índice de Masa Corporal (IMC) mediante la siguiente fórmula; peso en
kilogramos dividido entre talla en metros al cuadrado (IMC=kg/m2) (Puche, 2005). Los
resultados obtenidos no se dieron a conocer a los participantes.
Selección de alimento: Considerando la clasificación por grupos de alimentos del
Sistema Mexicano de Alimentos Equivalentes (Pérez, Palacios & Castro, 2008) se
presentaron tres opciones de menú por cada grupo de alimentos, todos ellos de fácil
manipulación (fáciles de preparar, transportar, servir y conservar) para que los
participantes seleccionaran el de su mayor preferencia en cada uno de los casos.
Aquellos que fueron seleccionados con mayor frecuencia con respecto a las demás
opciones del mismo grupo fueron elegidos para ser utilizados en el presente estudio.
Este último procedimiento se realizó para evitar un rechazo al alimento durante el
experimento por neofobias o aversiones alimentarias.

Alimentos utilizados: Los alimentos utilizados fueron Jícama (Pachyrhizuserosus) para

representar el grupo Verduras; Uvas (Vitis vinífera) para el grupo Frutas; Pan dulce
para el grupo Cereales y tubérculos; Frijol (Phaseolusvulgaris) cocido para el grupo de
Leguminosas; Jamón de pavo para el grupo Alimentos de origen animal;
Nueces (Juglans regia) peladas para el grupo de Aceites y grasas; Dulces de chocolate
confitado tipo "M&M" para el grupo de Azúcares y Leche semipasteurizada para el
grupo de Leches.

Los alimentos se racionaron de acuerdo a los pesos sugeridos por el "Sistema Mexicano
de Alimentos Equivalentes" y posteriormente fueron colocados en pequeños recipientes
transparentes tipo cristal. Se colocó una ración de cada alimento sobre mesas de acero
inoxidable individuales que ocuparían los participantes acompañados de cubiertos y
servilletas de papel. Para la realización del estudio se utilizó el laboratorio Ramón Turró
del CICAN equipado con cocineta y sistema de grabación. El trabajo metodológico fue
presentado, aprobado y aceptado ante el comité de ética e investigación del CICAN.

Procedimiento

Diseño experimental: El diseño experimental estuvo conformado por tres grupos

expuestos a dos fases, la fase 1 con una duración de dos días, contempló la línea base
y se registró la preferencia de alimento bajo una condición de no ayuno. Por su parte
la fase 2, con duración de un día, contempló el periodo experimental registrando la
preferencia de alimento bajo una condición de ayuno (Tabla 1).
Selection of participants: A total of 60 questionnaires selection among male students of
the Bachelor's degrees in psychology and nutrition of the Central University of the
South of the University of Guadalajara (Mexico) were applied for the incorporation of
participants. Subsequently, the measurement and calculation of BMI in the nutrition of
the CICAN clinic was conducted. Considering the above criteria (results of the
questionnaire and BMI), 9 participants who met the requirements were chosen: not
frequent fasting, not be upset with any food and not suffer from heartburn or
irregularities with the levels glucose, in order to compare the similarities or differences
with respect to the effect of fasting on the calorie consumption and preferences food
after a period of fasting.

Phase 1

The first day of the experiment participants in the groups (low, Normo-weight and
Sobre-peso) breakfasted in house usually before attending the first phase of the
experiment with the intention of avoiding the condition of fasting.

Groups separately into the laboratory, where a table is assigned to each participant,
about this was placed on 1 serving of each of the different foods available and had free
access to them. Additionally, had 15 portions of each food available, and participants
had free access to them. Once participants were installed in their respective places the
following them were given:

1 you can consume the amount you wish to the food of your choice as well as stand
and take more servings of food from the bar at any time.

2 They can do not strike up a conversation with his bandmates.

3 they may leave laboratory at the time who wish to during the course of the
experiment, leaving on the table the containers of food that have consumed.

4 to indicate when the experiment is done, must leave empty containers of food which
have consumed on his table and exit.

Each group of participants were allocated 25 minutes inside the lab, participants were
able to stand and take more food or retire freely when already they do not wish to
consume more. At the end of the designated time was asked to the participants that
they were still in the laboratory they withdrew leaving the containers in place and was
recorded consumed food.

The second day of the experiment and the end of the first phase was carried out the
same procedure as the previous day and also indicated the participants the time that
had to eat for the last time on that day, in order that all participants remain the same
times as fast. Stressed the importance of the fulfilment of the schedule and
participants placed a heat button (Thermochron iButton Device), as mismeasure of
monitoring the status of fasting. It gave the instruction to participants not be
withdrawn, since this would record their temperature before, during and after dinner
(last meal of the day) and the register would allow us to know if they had respected
the status of fasting.
Phase 2

The third day of the experiment, corresponding to the second phase, participants
reported verbally to comply with the directions of the previous day to schedule the last
consumption of food and fasting condition. Followed the same procedure as the
previous days and finally recorded foods on this last day of the experiment.

Results

The figures 1, 2 and 3 show the comparative graphs of average consumption of solid,
liquid food and caloric consumption by groups (low, Normo-weight and Sobre-peso)
respectively.
Figure 1 shows graphs of the average consumption of solid foods. The graphic top left
shows the consumption of the low group. She notes that the consumption of foods that
are representative of each group of the Mexican system of food equivalents used
recorded an increase over the baseline. Jicama consumption increased from 50.0g to
66.6g, that of grapes from 120g to 245g, 11.0g to 66.0g sweet bread, of bean from
29.3g to 115.5g, from 19.1g to 101.3g Turkey ham, from 0.0g to 1.6 g walnuts and
finally steady consumption rose from 9.1g to 22.0g.

Upper right graph shows the consumption average food group Normo-weight, in which
can be seen in different food consumption was variable. Consumption decreased co
from the base line in the following foods jicama (Pachyrhizuserosus) from 43.3g to
33.3g, sweet pa of 34.8g to 29.3g, beans cooked (Phaseolusvulgaris) of 82.5g 66 g
and the 6.0-0 g Turkey ham. On the contrary, there was an increase in e consumption:
grapes (Vitis vinifera)146.83 g 198 g and walnuts (Juglans regia) from 6.6g to
10.6g. Finally, you can see that the consumption of shackles was 21.6g in both
phases.

Finally, the graphics lower left of Figure 1 shows the average consumption of solid
foods of the Sobre-peso group. Shown that the consumption of foods from this group
was also variable, increasing the consumption of these foods:
jicama (Pachyrhizuserosus) from 99.3g to 116.6g, grapes (Vitis vinifera) 82.8g to 84
g, sweet bread from 36.6g to 58.6g and nuts (Juglans regia) of 2.16 g to 5.3g. On the
other hand, foods that were reduced with respect to the baseline consumption are:
78.6g 28.0 Turkey ham, cooked beans (Phaseolusvulgaris) from 61.8g to 49.5g g and
the shackles of 18.3g to 11.0g.

The average consumption of liquid food corresponds to the consumption of milk, is

presented in Figure 2 which shows the consumption of this food of the three groups of
participants. The graphic top left shows the consumption recorded by the Group low,
there is that consumption increased 270 ml in phase 1 to 480ml in phase 2. Upper
right graph shows the Group milk consumption Normo-weight, which declined 160 ml
to 100ml from one phase to another. Finally, the graphic below left shows milk
consumption of the Sobre-peso group which decreased with respect to the phase 1
from 351.6ml to 200 ml.

In Figure 3 you can see the differences of the calorie consumption between phase 1
and phase 2 of the three groups of participants. In the case of the low group, bars
show 361.2 caloric consumption increased calories in phase 1 to 1025.4 calories in
phase 2. The Group Normo-weight recorded a decrease in caloric consumption of 580.1
calories in the phase 1 to 523.0 calories in phase 2. Similarly, it is observed that
Sobre-peso group reduced their calorie consumption of 676.33 calories in the phase 1
to 594.0 calories in phase 2.

The results were analyzed with the statistical package SPSS using T test; However,
none of the results were statistically significant.

Discussion

The calorie consumption with respect to the State of fasting does not differ according
to the BMI of participants since Normo-weight and Sobre-Peso groups decreased
calorie consumption from the base as a result of the fast line.

While the multiple factors that influence food consumption should be considered it is
necessary to highlight that in this study some of these factors were controlled ensuring
that environmental conditions were similar, in as far as possible without However,
looking at results it is very likely that these differences are due to that during fasting,
the main source of energy is obtained from the reserve by glycogenolysis
glycogen. The concentration of hepatic glycogen in a 70-kg adult is usually 80 g, of
which consumed 110 mg/min under fasting conditions, which would in this case
represent an energy reserve of 12 hrs (Albero et al., 2004).

The average weight of the low group was 53.3kg from the above information is
possible to say that this group should have enough energy reserves to supply the
organism during 9.2hrs of the 10 hrs of fasting that was exposed. Probably, the low
Group increased its consumption as a compensation of the energy reserves that were
used during the period of fasting that were exposed to trying to find a point of energy
balance by eating food. Regarding Richter (1947) noted that regulation behaviors are
issued by agencies to maintain an equilibrium point and said that the conduct in this
case eating is the only means by which an organism maintains the balance.
The decrease in caloric consumption recorded Normo-weight and Sobre-peso group
could be explained with the argument that with the Group low, calculating the hepatic
energy reserve. The Group Normo-weight had an average weight of 71.9kg which
means an energy reserve to cover up to 12.45 hrs. fasting, i.e. that after exposure to
10 hrs of the fasting group still retained liver energy reserves for 2.45 hrs
more. Certainly, for this group was necessary to replace the calories that was private,
but not with the same priority as the low group. Following the same argument the
energy reserve, the participants with a BMI between 25 and 29.99 kg/m2 so-called
Sobre-peso, with an average of 81.8kg of body weight, might be sufficient for 14hrs.
16, i.e., the Sobre-peso group still retained reservations energy sufficient for 4.16 liver
hrs more than fast and although it was not less important to replenish the reserves
used, maybe the 10 hrs of fasting that both groups were exposed was one sufficient
stimulus to get the same effect as with the Group low.

The amount of energy reserve liver of each group of participants could explain the
effect that had fasting over the calorie consumption, consumption was proportional to
the BMI of the participants during the baseline and was modified after the fast, this It
probably happened due to the fact that these reserves correspond to body weight, i.e.
persons with a lower BMI have one lower energy reserve and therefore have greater
demand for replacing consumed reservations (Albero et al., 2004).

With these results, it is possible to suggest that there is a relationship between BMI
and eating behaviour. However, it will be necessary to delve into the experimental
procedure used by adding a greater number of food supplements to evaluate possible
relacionesque determine the preference chosen foods. It is pertinent to point out that
while no reported significant statistical differences between the different experimental
groups, that does not mean that there were no differences. It is possible to observe
that the differences in consumption between line base and experimental stage are
more noticeable in low-weight group. The relationship between body weight and
behavior has been rarely addressed, however, is a phenomenon of great
interest. McSweeney (1974) reported that organisms emit a different behavior
compared to their body weight. McSweeney (1974) conducted an experiment to assess
the variability in rats under operating programs running using the percentage of weight
as a measure of the intensity of deprivation. As Clark (1958), McSweeney related the
intensity of deprivation and instrumental execution quality confirming that depending
on the percentage of weight lost, the rate of response increases or decreases.

Another element that is necessary to consider are the variables that determine the
preference for a particular food. Birch and Fisher (1998) and Diaz (2002) noted that
food preference is determined by personal history, previous experiences, and
culture. Another possible explanation is based on the individual sensory perception of
consumed food. In particular, this variable may have influenced during the experiment,
this explains the possible differences between participants, coinciding with what is
mentioned by Velez and Garcia (2003). These researchers noted that the selection of
food is a complex phenomenon that involves individual and social factors.

The selection of the food consumed by the participants, could be due to the
characteristics of the offered food or from the pos-ingesta of the same effects. Burrit
and Provence (1992) after being exposed to a group of lambs to sweet and bitter
tastes with concentrations of saccharin and glucose in each session, reported that the
lambs preferred regardless of flavor, linked to the glucose solution by its post-
ingestivos effects. In this paper, preference for foods mentioned above could be due to
the need for energy.

In addition to the characteristics of the food, preference for the different food groups
also relates to personal eating habits of the participants and not only State of
deprivation in which they were. Young (1948) analyzed the interaction of such factors
and said that these, together determine the eating behavior of organisms and it will
depend on each agency's individual motivations that lead them to emit a particular
behavior such as the a food in special selection. According to the results of this study it
seems to be no relationship between the increase or decrease of the preference as
effect of fasting condition, at least there is no statistical basis to affirm it.

On the other hand, it is necessary to consider the perspectives of Richter (1947) and
Young (1948). On the one hand, the compensation mechanism of energy through the
calorie consumption, which registered the Group low, which could be called according
to Richter (1947) homeostasis. On the other hand, the increase and decrease of the
preference for certain foods offered during the experiment, could have been influenced
in accordance with Young (1948), by determinants of behavior as the individual
characteristics, conditions Food and particular eating habits of the participants and not
properly for the fasting period to which they had been exposed. In this sense, it is
necessary to deepen the effect of fasting on the selection and consumption of
food. However, the results of this work show data that can be considered as relevant
to the approach of new research and to study the topic of fasting under laboratory
conditions, set the tone.

Finally, it is necessary to underline that the experimental design of this study allowed
to demonstrate the modification of eating under the effects of the previous fast. The
experiment participants shared similar characteristics, same school turn, racing in the
branch of health, similar student commitments, none practiced sports regularly and the
inclusion criteria were established with the intention to match as much as possible the
condition of health and participants eating habits and thereby minimize the variables
that could affect in experiment. It is also relevant to consider the study in humans
using periods of deprivation (fasting) is an area very complicated from the ethical point
of view from the study known as The Minnesota Semistarvation Experiment. This
experiment was funded by federal and military authorities of the United States
Government and implemented by the researchers Franklin, Schiele, Brozek and Keys
(1948). The aim was to reproduce the power conditions that were experienced during
the war. The experiment was severely criticized by the severe conditions of restriction
wings that participants were subjected. In this sense, the present experiment uses a
method that can be defined as ethically responsible to use periods of sleep as a period
of fasting as well as having the knowledge informed participants. Under these
considerations, it will be possible to return to the experimentation in humans using
periods of food restriction.

Review

Drinking behavior disorders: a research proposal

Drinking behavior disorders: research proposal

Alma Gabriela Martínez Moreno, Antonio Lopez-espinoza, Navarro Monica

Meza, Patricia Lopez-Uriarte and José Guadalupe Salazar Estrada

Center for research on dietary behavior and nutrition (CICAN). Central South
University (CUSur) University of Guadalajara, Mexico.

Correspondence:
Alma Gabriela Martinez Moreno. Center for research in nutrition and dietary behavior.
Central South University. University of Guadalajara.
AV. Enrique Arreola Silva 883, CP 49000
Ciudad Guzmán, Jalisco, Mexico.
e-mail: alma.martinez@cusur.udg.mx

Received: 10/08/2013
Revised: 03/02/2014
Accepted: 03/03/2014

Overview

The word disorder concerns a group of signs, symptoms and behaviors that may occur
in different clinical forms and with different levels of severity. Although research on
drinking behavior disorders is not well known, there has been an increase in related
drinking excessively cluttered responses requiring urgent academic attention. One of
the main problems for their apparent lack of knowledge consists of the
conceptualization of the phenomenon and its measurement. The aim of the present
work consists in proposing the inclusion of the potomania, drunkorexia and glut of
sugar such as behavioral drinking from a descriptive analysis of these phenomena. On
this basis includes a section about the sed and the conduct of drinking, distinguishing
usual drinking excessive drinking.Subsequently described possible disorders of
behavior of drinking, reviewing methods and experimental manipulations
used. Recognizes the lack of scientific evidence to determine whether or not can be
considered disorders. Finally, discussed the possibility of including other behaviors
within the drink in the near future conduct disorders.

Keywords: Disorder, eating behavior, behavior of drinking, binge eating.

Abstract

Disorder word refers to signs, symptoms and behaviors group those who can occur in
many clinical ways and in different levels severity. Although drinking behavior
disorders research is know it a little, it has to raise of disorder observed responses in
relation with excessive behavior who's require urgent academic attention. One of its
main problems for lack of knowledge about measuring and conceptualization
phenomenon consists apparent. The objective of the present work consists about
discussion on drinking disorder behaviors. The purpose is to review its definition and
propose potomania, drunkorexia and sugar bingeing like drinking disorders through a
descriptive analysis. Content of this work includes the thirst and drinking behavior and
its methods and experimental part forces used. We recognize the lack of scientific
research to determine if they can or not disorders considerate. In a near future we
discuss the possibility of another behaviors like drinking behaviors disorders inclusion.

Key words: Disorder, feeding behavior, behavior, binge drinking.

Introduction

The current time is largely defined by what you eat. It is fair to point out that it is also
defined by what is drunk. In these times that we know so much about the food aspect,
it is disappointing what little is known about the behavior of drinking disorders. This
claim is probably little or no research that exists on the subject in our country. This
last one is contradictory when Mexico occupies first place in consumption of sugar-
sweetened beverages worldwide (now called how addictive behavior), the level of
alcohol consumption has grown significantly in recent years and the presence the
potomania is increasingly evident. Perhaps the key is in the erroneous
conceptualization and understanding of the behavior of drinking, which often is
included in what refers to the behavior of eating, even when both have different
biological mechanisms. For this reason, the objective of the present work consists of
reviewing the definition of the conduct of drinking and propose the inclusion of drinking
disordered behaviors observed largely in our country and requiring urgent academic
attention for study Prevention and control. For this purpose it is proposed to determine
first what is excessive drinking and how can be measured behaviorally. Subsequently
reviewed existing scientific evidence about what other authors have called as deviant
behaviour of drinking, or well, drinking behavior disorders. We propose possible
disorders of drinking behavior and the methodology that can be used for study. At this
point a separation is made between the literature on animal and human models.

Thirst and drinking

Human beings are born with an amount of water that will decrease throughout his
life. Gradually, the amount of body water in healthy individuals can be affected by age
and sex only (Altman, 1961). However, this amount of water may vary by changes in
muscle and adipose tissue (Andersson, 1978), based on eating habits (Carlson,
1977;) Hunt & Stubbs, 1975) and level of physical activity (Greenleaf, 1991).
It would be easy to assume that the amount of water in the body would experience the
State of thirst, which would indicate the exact time to start drinking
behavior. However, the maintenance of the vital functions in organisms from the fluid
intake (or hydration as names in medical terminology), must ensure the concentration
of electrolytes in the extra and intracellular fluids (Andersson & Olson, 1973). When
the amount of water consumed is equal to the amount of water that is lost stays
balance, when it breaks, there is the State of thirst (Grandjean & Campbell, 2004).

How to determine if there is an imbalance or disorder of the drink if we cannot

measure accurately the volume of hydration and dehydration? Biologically it attempted
using biochemical markers (Shirreffs, 2000). The analysis of blood and urine are
useful, but body weight seems to be the most reliable measure to determine significant
changes in the levels of water in organisms (Sansevero, 1997). Behaviorally the
problem of measurement it complicates, must not only take into account the internal
balance between intake and water loss but present in the environment to elicitan
stimuli drinking responses (Tuorila, 1991).

Additionally, it is important to consider that the water consumed by a human being

comes from food and liquids: 25% of the water obtained comes from food and 75% of
beverages (Rolls & Rolls, 1982). How much to drink? The average daily water
consumption by adults is 761ml through food and 3,089 ml through liquids, which can
obviously vary according to sex, age, temperature and other factors (Hunt & Stubbs,
1975). However, the same does not always drunk: there may be significant changes in
the intake of fluids from one day to another, precisely determined by other factors
(Adolph, Barker & today, 1954).

If we are to establish the occurrence of disorders in drinking behavior it is possible to

wonder how much should you drink? It is impossible to answer this question. Fluid
requirements are determined by the metabolism, level of activity and environmental
conditions (Booth, 1991). There is not an ideal measure of water consumption that will
ensure adequate hydration. Wong (2003) noted that water requirements can be
defined in a sense approximate and depending on the age. However, the International
Institute of life sciences, Division North America recommended an average of 1.3 l as
consumption of drink, that would amount to about 3-4 cups of beverages for
preschoolers (Grandjean and Campell, 2004). These recommendations are
independent of sex. A situation that changed during adolescence and differs completely
in adulthood, stage in which an average of 3.7 l of drinks is recommended for men and
2.7 l for women (Food and Nutrition Board [FNB], 2004). Without a doubt, these
recommendations are still incomplete since they do not take into account other aspects
that can affect behavior like this, as it is the cultural aspect and the geographical
region which is inhabited (Tuorila, 1991).

Based on the above, it is possible to affirm that fluids can be determined from the
organic needs, however, consumption does not necessarily obey an inner urgency and
thirst is not necessarily a provoked State due to the lack of internal balance. The State
of thirst and fluid intake behaviour include other determinants that will be detailed
below.

Drinking vs 'normal' drinking

Experimental psychology is not supported in your terminology call behavior as
"normal". A subject emits replies and expresses a behavior, appropriate is to define
what type of response (frequency, intensity, duration, rate, amplitude and other
features) is usual about what (De Castro & Kreitzman, 1985). Additionally you have to
involve the context in which it was issued. The context includes determinants such as:
temperature, shape, size, variability, color, light-dark cycle, etc. (Barker, Best &
Domjan, 1977). Based on this it is complex to describe drinking behaviour.

As mentioned above, in the absence of a standard measure about fluid intake difficult
differential is "normal" drinking excessive drinking. That is why liquids ingestive
behavior can measure when they are controlled conditions in which airs such response
(Blass & Hall, 1976). To determine the amount of water drinking a subject under
conditions of free access, it is necessary to determine the following: 1) the period of
time which shall be measured their responses to drink - for one hour, for twenty-four
hours, for a month, etc. -) LeMagnen & Tallon, 1968); (2) what response of drinking
behavior to be measured – the amount consumed, the number of times that the
subject drinks liquid, the time that it takes to drinking on each occasion-(Gersovitz,
Madden & Smicikalas-Wright, 1978); (3) the context in which will be measured -
laboratory or a certain environment - behavior (De Castro, 1991); and, 4) specific to
that drink according to their sensory properties - appearance, taste, smell, texture,
color-(Rolls, Wood & Stevens, 1978) and liquid nutritional - energy content - (Kräly,
1984). Once established these conditions it will be possible to get closer to the
behavioural pattern typical of fluid intake, which may not be generalized to other
subjects. For example, the amount of liquid consumed by a 20-year-old man will not
be the same as that of a 20-year-old woman, or a 10-year-old man.

With respect to excessive drinking (disorder behavioral manifested from the increase in
the consumption of fluid that emits a subject from its base line), this behavior has
been reported experimentally in several animal models, like rats (Blass &
Hall 1974; Epstein, Spector, Samman & Goldblum, 1964; Martinez, Lopez-espinoza &
Martinez, 2006), gerbils (Bouskila, 2001), dogs (Adolph, 1939;) Ramsay, Rolls &
Wood, 1977), rabbits (Peck & Novin, 1971), monkeys (Bonthius, Bonthius & Napper,
1996;) Wood, Madison, Rolls, Rolls & Gibbs, 1980), sheep (Zimmerman, Blaine &
Stricker, 1981), iguanas (Carpenter, 1966), birds (Cade & Green-Wold, 1966:
McFarland, 1965), and finally in humans (Faden & Fay, 2004;) Rolls, Wood, Rolls, Lind,
Lind & Ledingham, 1980). However, it is not clear what is the increase that should be
observed to consider drinking response as excessive, or as a disorder of drinking
behavior.

Possible drinking behavior disorders

A disorder is not an isolated symptom or a clearly established specific behavior

(Weissberg & Quesnel, 2004). Eating disorders occur when a person does not receive
the caloric intake you need according to their age to operate its biological system
(Vandereycken & Noordenbos, 2000). For this reason, it is difficult to include in this
definition the conduct disorders drinking, since referred to caloric intake, and although
most liquids contain calories, water non and also exacerbated consumption can lead to
the occurrence of a food rastorno.
Does drinking behavior disorder as such? No generally referred to this in disorders of
eating behavior, or, in unspecified eating disorders (Garner, 1991). Is it necessary to
use that term? Yes. The present time obliges categorize new diseases and
disorders. Today numerous stories about people drinking "too much" water can be
read in the popular press (Martinez, 2010; 2011). It is not strange to find in
journalistic notes, epidemiological investigations and surveys about the famous soft
drink addiction, as recurrent in our country (car, 2013, Martinez, 2012). Why not
consider these behaviors as a disorder? Because there is not enough scientific evidence
indicating that responses that make up these behaviors to achieve the category of
disorder. For this reason, it is prevailing to encourage research in human behaviour
that can help in this task.

In particular, the increase in the rate of consumption of liquids in disorderly human

fashion has been described in three specific conditions: in subjects who drink water
uncontrolled and compulsive with apparent osmotic balance (Cronin, 1987;) Martinez,
2010), in subjects who drink high amounts of alcohol, depriving themselves of other
foods to compensate for the calories ingested by the intoxicating (Villarino, 2012) and
in subjects "addicted" to sweetened beverages (Martínez, 2012). Then each of these
phenomena will be revised and you will discuss the possibility of appointing these
responses within certain parameters conducive to include them as drinking behavior
disorders.

Potomania

You need to drink water to survive what happens when you drink more water than
necessary? The potomania is the desire to consume large quantities of liquids, such as
water (polydipsia) or alcoholic beverages (dipsomania). This psychological disorder is
quite ignored by present symptomatic pictures similar to other eating disorders, in
addition to being a new addiction that affects an important segment of the
population. The focal issue of this behavior is that you can trigger a problem of health
(Cronin, 1987). Excess water in the body causes essential minerals such as potassium,
sodium and magnesium, are diluted more quickly than usual causing cramps, fatigue
and sluggishness in the execution of simple cognitive tasks. If water continues to grow,
is likely to see massive loss of potassium that trigger cardiac difficulties. On the other
hand, the kidneys are also organs affected by the excessive consumption of liquid:
taken to the limit can cause a hyponatremia (water intoxication) characterized by the
decrease of sodium levels in the blood that can cause seizures (Siegler, Tamres, Berlin,
Allen-Taylor & Strom, 1995).

Thus, it is common to locate potomania term in the medical dictionary, since it is

related to other diseases: usually are accompanied by the suffering of a mental illness
(Thoma, Howe, Gaudet & Brantley, 2001). That is, suffer potomania represents a
symptom of something "more serious". Is it possible to suffer from potomania without
the surname of mental illness? Surely Yes. Although the potomania is not included in
any section of the current classifications of Psychiatry as a specific diagnosis, may
include characteristics in the classification of the unclassified impulse control disorders:
ingestion excessive water could be perceived as a substitute for food to control the
anxiety (Blake, Turnbull & Treasure, 1997). Although they drink without thirst, water
addicts looking to obtain a pleasant sensation that will help them to maintain that
behavior and get some State of well-being (Guerrero-Morcillo, Sanchez-pastor &
happy-Munoz, 2009).

In addition, the potomania can also be found as psychogenic polydipsia or addiction to

water. The latter is bounded by pointing out that "drinking without thirst" and that
water addicts tend to drink up to five and eight litres of water a day (Cronin,
1987). Certainly the potomania is not considered as an eating disorder, unspecified,
perhaps add the term "compulsion" would help more this phenomenon to approaching
the category of disorder (Ifland et al., 2009). It would also help investigate whether
potomania sufferers are more likely to suffer from eating disorders or anxiety
disorders. Apparently, compulsive consumer of water does not necessarily repeated
behavior based on health but the status acquired as 'healthy person', habit present in
societies suffering from abundance. Much had to see the proliferation of this behavior
when the water were commercially available in plastic bottles: it can be considered to
bottled water as the trillion-dollar global business and its industry has shown a growth
of 25% per year (Wilk, 2006).

By previously exposed, the potomania or addiction to the water would be regarded as

a disorder? Unfortunately there are no exact details of the incidence of the potomania
even globally or in developed countries, much less in Mexico. Therefore, it would be
sensible to investigate more about the psychological aspects of this phenomenon, and
finally to consider if you can purchase or not the category of disorder.

Drunkorexia and binge drinking

The term drunkorexia was used for the first time in the American newspaper "The New
York Times" (Kershaw, 2008) to name the conduct of young people who restrict the
consumption of foods with a high caloric intake for drinking alcohol in excess. People
who manifest these behaviors generally have knowledge about the energy content of
alcoholic beverages and try to balance food intake to avoid increasing their body
weight. Unfortunately the maintenance of this "balance" leads them to stop eating
drastically drinking in excessive form.

The usual pattern of the drunkorexia includes count calories from foods and beverages
that ingerirán, stop eating for hours or days prior to ingestion of alcoholic beverages
and then increase physical activity to burn the calories that could have been exceeded
during the Spree (Villarino, 2012). About this phenomenon there is no scientific
reference that makes reference to its measurement or description. One of the reasons
to justify this possible lack of attention lies in the large amount of information about
another disorder behaviour relating to the ingestion of alcoholic beverages: binge
drinking.

Do not confuse the alcoholic with the binge drinker, or alcoholism with binge
drinking. Is called binge drinking to an intensive period of alcohol consumption in a
short time (it is regarded as such when there is a consumption equal to or greater than
six units in men and four or more for women at a session of consumption, usually
delimited between four to six hours -However this parameter may vary depending on
various factors and what is considered a portion of drink-), with the intention of
becoming intoxicated (Wechsler, 2002). For this reason, most of the binge drinkers do
not reach the category of alcoholics, since his conduct does not necessarily imply a
dependence on alcohol (Murgraff, Parrott & Bennett, 1999). Which is why binge
drinking is a behavior that could possibly be considered behavior disorder of drink
which includes an uncontrollable episodic response, i.e., a glut of alcoholic beverages.

Previously, the term "binge" was used as clinical meaning to refer to uncontrollable
and continuous regular basis drinking during a specified number of days (Johnston &
White, 2003). Thus, the binge drinking was the main feature to recognize a subject
with dependence on alcohol (Cooke, Sniehotta & Schüz, 2007). Subsequently, the term
expanded its meaning to refer to people who drank large amounts of alcohol on a
single occasion, so not necessarily concerned alcohol dependence (Wechsler & Austin,
1998).

Certainly, the consequences caused by the consumption of alcohol detonated in studios

interested in specifying the behavior of binge drinking, especially among adolescents
(Courtney & Polich, 2009;) Wechsler & Kuo, 2000; Wechsler, Dowdall, Davenport &
Castle, 1995; Wechsler, Dowdall, Davenport & Rimm, 1995). A first line of research
argued the possibility of large drinks of alcohol arise from episodic form by genetic
influence (Luque, Garcia, Chapel, Senderek & Arias, 2004). By other side, the study of
the behavior of drinking habits, as well as social behavior appear to have more
conclusive evidence about the characteristics of the binge drinking in humans (Conner,
Warren, Close & Sparks, 1999).

Based on this evidence would be perceived to the binge drinking as drinking behavior
disorder? Possibly not. Although inclusion parameters behavioural established habits of
alcoholic beverages under conditions of free access and the social context in which is
issued the response; This episodic and uncontrollable behavior is undoubtedly related
to the research on alcoholism and would be difficult to establish a new category as
disorder, when you already can be considered as such within the investigation of the
effects of the Drugs of abuse.

On the other hand, the study of the drunkorexia as drinking behavior disorder seems
to have further. It is clear that calorie counting and determination to replace calories
from alcoholic beverages other food with higher nutritional content, is closer to the
definition of a behavioral disorder. Although it is clear no research on this phenomenon
(perhaps because of its relative newness in the scientific field) has the elements to be
considered in this category.

Sugar binge

For some years, Mexico maintains first place in consumption of soft drinks or sugary
drinks. Not the slightest doubt that: it has been shown that on average, a Mexican
baby daily half a liter of soda and that breakfast seven of every ten Mexican children
with soft drink, while only 26% accompanies your lunch with milk (Rivera et al.,
2008). Definitely, these facts lead to the conclusion of that behavior of drinking in
these cases is due to a disorder or condition that must be studied systematically. I.e.,
excess sugar consumption may be a disorder of drinking behavior.

The occurrence of this behavior is not recent. 10 000 years on the island of New
Guinea, place where the first sugar cane, were cultivated people ate them raw to
chewing them to the stem and manifested a State of elixir that resembled "a burst of
stars" (Mintz 1985). How is that the consumption of sugar became the enemy it? When
blamed you the origin of several diseases suffering the most: obesity, diabetes, and
hypertension (car, 2013). Long since demonstrated that consumption of large
quantities of sugar generates high levels of fat and insulin in the blood, without any
nutritional benefit, causing also a decrease of energy that prevents exercise
adequately (Brito, 2004). Unfortunately, the pleasant sweet taste of sugar has bitter
consequences.

The sweet taste elicita eating to produce a pleasurable sensation: the brain provides
the same feeling that cause the opioids (Colantuoni et to the., 2001). For this reason
warns that the ingestion of sugars originates an addictive behavior, since their
ingestion causes neurochemical changes that alter the responses mediated by opioids
or dopamine (oats, Rada & Hoebel, 2008).

Colantuoni et to the. (2002) conducted studies with rats and indicated the existence of
neurochemical reactions in specific regions of the brain that control the ingestion of
glucose. They stated that there is a complex organization between dopamine and
opioids in the neural response to sugar. Therefore, the chronic ingestion of sugars in
laboratory animals appears to hold for their stimulant properties on the nervous
system. Similarly, in laboratory is the place where most described the behavioural
pattern of consumption of sugars. Oats (2010) said that it is possible to use an animal
model to demonstrate the behavioural pattern of addiction to sugar defined in three
stages: 1) binge eating, 2) unit and "3) craving" or desire for the substance. The stage
of binge eating is possibly the most studied. It is characterized by a pattern of
consumption called scaling in which animal suddenly increased their consumption of
sweetened solutions followed by decreases and increases. It is similar to a pattern of
"up and down" in which the increase in the consumption of the substance is growing
(Rada, oats & Hoebel, 2005). There are even reports that indicate that in 24 hours free
access a rat can drink your weight in sugar water (Martínez, Lopez-espinoza, Diaz &
Valdés, 2009). For his part, Rada et to the. "(2005) showed that restricting access to
the sugar solution for 12 hours in their cycle of activity, it is possible to observe a large
intake of sweetened water (> 10% of the total intake of the day) during the first hour
of access, response to which the name" binge eating"by resemble what occurs with
other drugs.

In the case of humans, the glut of sugar has not been described as faithfully as we
would like. Data is only available on the high consumption of sugars. Possibly it is time
that starts experimenting with humans to characterize the glut of sugar and access
tracks behavioral control. While it is true that the glut of sugar reported in animal
studies can be considered already a behavior disorder drink given its characteristics, it
would be necessary to have more evidence in the case of human beings.

Experimental models for the study of behavior disorders of drinking

The traditional approach to study conduct and determine if this has become a
disorderly pattern consists of study it isolate it any variable that could interfere with
your characterization (De Castro & Castro, 1989). For this reason, the laboratory use
behavioral allowing observed and experiment with this variable, undoubtedly will allow
new conclusions in this regard.
In this sense, the objective of behavioural studies on the drink is to describe the
pattern of regular fluid intake to establish a line base, followed by the manipulation of
one variable to produce the disorderly conduct, in this case, the
drinking excessive; and subsequently identify stimuli that keep this behavior for its
control (Epstein, 1976). This will allow the pattern that is disturbing to their common
characteristics observed in the register of the baseline. Based on the foregoing raised
some models that attempt to predict the pattern of consumption of drinking behavior
which could be useful for your control (Blass & Hall, 1976)

In 1970, Toates and Oatley proposed a model using mathematical equations that
would establish the next consumption that will emit a rat under certain environmental
conditions. However, the model did not succeed due to the lack of control of
physiological variables. In response, acknowledged that drinking behavior could launch
clearly from the deficit intra and extracellular agencies together with other important
factors, such as the palatability of liquids, and even conduct pre-emptive
occurring before a possible deficit. In this way, it is possible to identify some methods
that allow the study of the behavior of drinking under experimental conditions. These
methods constitute a research proposal that much value to the line of research of the
possible disorders of drinking behavior.

Animal models: Bout pattern analysis

Responses involving the conduct of drinking usually are issued of chained form. I.e., a
person not swallowed a glass of water with a single response, but with a group of
consecutive answers that include movements of the mouth, tongue and digestive
tract. In the case of the rats, the lengueteo is considered to be a response that
indicates the behavioural pattern of drinking heavily. For this reason, this group of
answers, likely to be measured, referred you to as bout pattern analysis (De Castro,
1988). This pattern of measurement allows to differentiate when started behavior,
their occurrence during a period of time, its magnitude and completion. So allowing
establish clearly the line base of fluid intake and get the characterization of the usual
pattern of fluid intake, ready to compare changes that can be observed from the
manipulation of one variable (De Castro & Kreitzman, 1985). In the case of animals,
laboratory equipment have sophisticated elements that allow you to monitor these
responses.

On the study of possible conduct of drinking disorders, only binge of sugar can be
studied in animal models. The quantity, frequency, latency and organization of this
response in the animal laboratory would explain this phenomenon and determine the
basis for his prediction and control.

Human beings: the self-report technique

The requirement to determine whether there is or not a disorder of drinking behavior is

to compare the usual drink with the occurrence of the conduct that is considered
disorderly. Continuous measurement of behavior of drinking in humans is virtually
impossible, but auto reporting technique is that so far, it may be useful for this task.
24-hour recall may be effective if applied properly to study phenomena such as the
potomania and the drunkorexia. Basically consist of recording the number of drinks
consumed, frequency and periods between each occasion to drink (Krantzler et al.,
1982.) Humans can easily carry out this newspaper. While it is true that their
constraints can be detected already (which the participants not properly pour
information, which forget to carry out the registration or does not adequately describe
the consumed portions) its validity has been determined with success (St Jeor, Guthrie
& Jones, 1983) and, more important still, there is no other technique or strategy to
measure behaviour of ingestion of liquids in humans out of laboratories. What other
alternative is there? Without a doubt, it is complex to recruit participants showing
behaviors described in the potomania and drunkorexia for analysis in a
laboratory. Field work in enabling environments to observe these phenomena and the
case studies represent an option to start research lines that focus their attention on
the description and analysis of the conduct of drinking in excess. Case study can
provide a strategy of research design that allows to select the subject of the study and
the real scenario in which the target behavior occurs.

Conclusions

Research on the dietary behavior, the publication of scientific papers about their
disorders is common. Usually, these disorders refer to the overeating or inhibit
volunteer of food, to the disruption of the Food Act correlated availability to
underweight; Alternatively, the ingestion of non-food substances (Calvo, 2011).

However, research on disorders of the conduct of drinking, although little known, also
has been reported in previous papers (Martinez, 2009;) Martinez, Lopez-espinoza &
barrier, 2011). One of the main problems for their apparent lack of knowledge
consists, first, in the conceptualization of the phenomenon. Excessive fluid intake has
been named in various ways without clearly establishing their criteria. This confusion in
the terminology used to refer to excessive drinking is related to the application of
medical language research of eating disorders. While it is true that some of these
concepts are used to diagnose diseases, some of them have been transfer to the
scientific language without the establishment of criteria for its use.

Another problem in the recognition of behavior disorders is its measurement. How to

establish that you drinking too much? In psychological studies about the occurrence of
food behaviour it is a mistake to talk about normal behavior (Cruzat, Haemmerli &
Garcia, 2012). On this basis, if it is complex to describe what is normal drinking, with
greater reason is deemed difficult to describe what is drinking too much, either, what
is a disorder of drinking behavior. I.e., what are their parameters and
characteristics. While these behaviors have been reported in several studies, there is
not a parameter clear that determine how much he must drink to see how disorderly
conduct. Nor are clear experimental procedures under which there are these behaviors,
the time intervals in which carry out measurements and the effect of comparing the
increase in the rate of consumption from the base line, to a baseline manipulated or to
the rate of consumption of other liquid (Martinez, 2009).

In this sense, it is priority the consolidation of this line of research that aims to
characterize the disorders of behavior of drinking from his exploration in human and
animal models from the perspective of the experimental analysis of the behavior. A
motion to its strengthening is done in the present work, which proposes the
potomania, the drunkorexia and the glut of sugar as possible candidates to integrate
drinking behavior disorders. Possibly do lack scientific evidence to determine whether
or not can be considered disorders, but the characteristics reported so far makes them
deserving of this position. Definitely, one of the criteria to propose the potomania,
drunkorexia and glut of sugar such as drinking behavior disorders is that these
behaviors do not obey any irregularity of physiological processes and their
characteristic pattern is the significant increase in the rate of drinking from the base
line. Perhaps in the near future you can speak of other behaviors that can also be
integrated to drinking behavior disorders.

Finally, it is important to underline that this task requires to establish the conceptual
analysis of drinking behavior and terms used so far for their disorders. It is also
imperative to review the parameters used to measure these responses, as well as also
describe procedures and sufficient to study experimental techniques. The purpose is to
establish new scientific guidelines that help to characterize these behaviors.

This work was supported by CONACYT, call SEP-CONACYT 2008 basic

science. 101314 CB.