Abstract

Background and AimsIn addition to craving responses to salient food cues, the anticipation of short-term rewarding consumption of palatable food may overrun the anticipation of long-term negative consequences of obesity. The present investigation addressed the potential interplay of food cravings and decision-making abilities in individuals with obesity.MethodStudy 1 included 107 bariatric surgery candidates with class 2/3 obesity (OB-group) and study 2 included 54 individuals with normal weight/pre-obesity (nonOB-group). In both studies, standardized questionnaires concerning food cravings, food addiction, and psychopathology were administered. A cue-reactivity paradigm was used to measure craving responses toward semi-individualized images of highly palatable, processed food/fruit (appetitive food cues) compared to images of raw vegetables (non-appetitive food cues). Decision-making was measured with a modified computerized version of the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) with food pictures. Both groups were divided into two subgroups that were randomized to different IGT conditions. In one IGT condition the advantageous IGT card decks were covered by pictures of palatable, processed food or fruit and the disadvantageous decks by images of raw vegetables (= congruent condition), and in the other IGT condition vice versa.ResultsParticipants in the OB-group admitted on average higher craving responses toward palatable, processed food or fruit cues compared to pictures of raw vegetables. This was not the case in the nonOB-group. Contrary to our hypothesis, decision-making performance in both groups was worse when pictures of palatable, processed food or fruit were associated with advantageous IGT card decks compared to performance when those pictures were linked to the disadvantageous decks. The interference effect of food pictures processing on advantageous decision-making has been observed particularly in those individuals of the OB-group who exhibited high craving responses toward palatable, processed food cues or high levels of food addiction.DiscussionThe results indicate that food pictures processing interferes with decision-making, regardless of weight status. Opposed to the hypothesis, stronger tendencies to avoid than to approach pictures presenting processed, tasty food were observed. Further research should examine how cognitive avoidance tendencies toward processed, high energy food and approach tendencies toward healthy food can be transferred to real life situations.

Highlights

  • IntroductionObesity has become a serious public health challenge [1, 2]

  • Over the last decades, obesity has become a serious public health challenge [1, 2]

  • Our findings indicate a negative association between food addiction severity levels and overall scores on the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), which resembles the results of Steward et al [27] who reported about altered decisionmaking in women with obesity and food addiction

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Summary

Introduction

Obesity has become a serious public health challenge [1, 2]. The national rates of obesity in some US states are approaching almost 40% [4]. This is worrisome given that obesity increases the risk for weight-related somatic disorders (e.g., type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular diseases), mental health disorders (e.g., depression), and mortality [5,6,7]. On the level of the individual’s metabolism, overweight and obesity occur when calorie intake exceeds calorie expenditure [8]. Conventional treatments of obesity involve decreasing energy intake (diet), increasing energy expenditure (physical activity, exercising), and offering structured behavioral-change programs. The present investigation addressed the potential interplay of food cravings and decision-making abilities in individuals with obesity

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