Abstract
Individuals with bulimia nervosa (BN) or binge-eating disorder (BED) experience more frequent and intense food cravings than individuals without binge eating. However, it is currently unclear whether they also show larger food cue-induced increases in craving (i.e., food cue reactivity) than those without binge eating, as suggested by conditioning theories of binge eating. A group of individuals with BN or BED (binge-eating group, n = 27) and a group of individuals with low trait food craving scores and without binge eating (control group, n = 19) reported their current food craving before and after a food cue exposure. Although food craving intensity significantly increased in both groups, this increase was significantly stronger in the binge-eating group than in the control group. This result is in line with conditioning models of binge eating that propose that food cues are conditioned stimuli that elicit a conditioned response (e.g., food craving) and that this association is stronger in individuals with binge eating. As food craving increased in individuals with low trait food craving scores as well—although to a lesser extent—previous null results might be explained by methodological considerations such as not screening control participants for trait food craving.
Highlights
In terms of classical conditioning, food intake may be considered an unconditioned stimulus and its metabolic effects unconditioned responses
While groups did not differ before the food cue exposure, the binge-eating group had higher state food craving than the control group after the food cue exposure (Table 1; Fig 1)
Note that the age difference between groups was driven by participants with binge-eating disorder (BED) (M = 35.2 years, SD = 13.5) who were older than participants with bulimia nervosa (BN) (M = 25.2 years, SD = 6.62, t(17.2) = 2.41, p = .028, d = 0.95)
Summary
In terms of classical conditioning, food intake may be considered an unconditioned stimulus and its metabolic effects unconditioned responses. Cues that reliably signal food intake (e.g., the sight, smell, and taste of food) may start to act as conditioned stimuli that can trigger conditioned responses. This learned food cue reactivity can manifest in several objectively-measurable physiological responses (e.g., increases in salivary flow, heart rate) upon exposure to food or food cues, yet an essential element of food cue reactivity is a subjective experience of an intense desire to eat the food (i.e., craving) [1]. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript
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