The metabolic hypothesis for restrictive eating behaviors: A computational and evolutionary approach

Background Restrictive eating behaviors, widespread in humans and animals, are often conceptualized as maladaptive, but may serve adaptive purposes under specific circumstances. Aim To investigate the adaptive potential of restrictive eating behaviors. Methods Computational models explored the relationship between food availability, basal metabolic rate, and restrictive eating behaviors. The evolutionary conservation of genes associated with both basal metabolic rate and restrictive eating behaviors was evaluated. Results The propensity to engage in restrictive eating behaviors protected against negative energy balances at times of food volatility, implying ecological fitness potential. A high degree of conservation across species was observed in retrieved genes, implying selective evolutionary constraints. Conclusion Restrictive eating behaviors may represent a maladaptive outcome of evolutionary constraints on protective metabolic mechanisms. The higher prevalence of restrictive eating in women could stem from a greater reliance on protective strategies, highlighting the need for further exploration of sex-specific genetic and environmental interactions.