The effect of short-term fasting on processing of food cues in normal subjects

Abstract

The effect of food deprivation on the selective processing of food- and body-size-related information was investigated using a modified version of the Stroop task. Fasting subjects were slower than controls in color-naming food-related words but not body-size-related words. This interference effect was found for both males and females. The findings could not be explained in terms of other variables and appeared to be a reflection of current concern with food and eating produced by the food deprivation.