Food Cravings Research Articles

Thematic Analysis of Guided Imagery Scripts in a Multi-Health Behavior Change Intervention

Guided imagery is a mind-body technique that involves the controlled visualization of goals, behaviors, and desired outcomes. This secondary analysis aimed to identify themes in guided imagery scripts for the self-regulation of diet and stress management by overweight and obese women who were trying to lose weight. The guided imagery scripts were developed with the participants using prompts to elicit evocative emotional and sensory terms and phrases. Directed content analysis from 40 participants (21 to 51 years of age) was performed by 2 independent coders to develop a coding scheme, reach consensus, and identify major themes. Results showed 4 second-order themes for both stress reduction and food cravings. Major qualitative themes for stress reduction were imagined “special” places, body sensations and sensory descriptors, cognitive processes, and emotions. The four food cravings themes were foods and food types, body sensations/sensory descriptors, cognitive processes, and emotions. These results provide a framework for health care practitioners to develop simple to use guided imagery scripts to help women regulate stress and dietary behavior. Recommendations are made about how guided imagery techniques can be delivered in-person or digitally by nutritionists, psychologists, or health educators.

How images of food become cravingly salient in obesity.

This case-control study was aimed at testing two main hypotheses: (i) obesity is characterized by neurofunctional alterations within the mesocorticolimbic reward system, a brain network originating from the midbrain ventral tegmental area (VTA); and (ii) these alterations are associated with a bias for food-related stimuli and craving. Normal-weight individuals and individuals with obesity underwent a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging scan and the assessment of impulsivity, food craving, appetite, and implicit bias for food and non-food stimuli. The VTA was used as a seed to map, for each participant, the strength of its functional connections with the rest of the brain. The between-group difference in functional connectivity was then computed, and brain-behavior correlations were performed. Individuals with obesity showed hyper-connectivity of the VTA with part of the ventral occipitotemporal cortex, recently found to be specialized for food images, and hypo-connectivity with the left inferior frontal gyrus, devoted to cognitive control. VTA-ventral occipitotemporal cortex connectivity was positively associated with food craving and food-related bias; the reverse correlation was observed for VTA-inferior frontal gyrus connectivity. These findings reveal that, in obesity, food-related visual stimuli become cravingly salient through an imbalanced connectivity of the reward system with sensory-specific regions and the frontal cortex involved in cognitive control.

Weight Regain and Ingestive Behavior in Women after Metabolic Surgery.

This study investigated associations between maladaptive ingestive behaviors and weight regain in women who underwent metabolic surgery 2-10 years ago. Using a web-based survey, we assessed emotional, external, and restrained eating (Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire-DEBQ), food cravings (Food-Craving Inventory-FCI), and other behaviors (e.g., Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire-EDE-Q; Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test-Concise-AUDIT-C) in 36 women (42.9 ± 9.5 years old) post-surgery. We found that weight regain was specifically associated with increased frequency of cravings for sweets (r = 0.43), higher global scores in the EDE-Q (r = 0.38), and time elapsed since surgery (r = 0.35; all p's < 0.04). Multiple regression analysis revealed that the association between weight regain and sweet cravings interacted with time after surgery (p = 0.04), with the strongest association observed in women assessed closer to the surgery (i.e., 2.0-2.8 years). The combination of time after surgery and its interaction with sweet cravings accounted for 31% of the individual variations in weight regain (p = 0.005). Notably, among participants who reported alcohol consumption (31 of 36), 55% had an AUDIT-C score indicating hazardous drinking. These findings highlight the relevance of attending to patients' reports of frequent sweet cravings and screening for alcohol use to enhance strategies tailored to prevent weight regain and alcohol-related health problems post-surgery.

The use of non-invasive brain stimulation techniques to reduce body weight and food cravings: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Several studies demonstrated non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) are safe and simple techniques that can reduce body weight, food cravings, and food consumption in patients with obesity. However, a systematic to evaluate the efficacy of active NIBS versus sham stimulation in reducing body weight and food cravings in patients with obesity is not available. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE, and Cochrane Central Register of Control Trial between January 1990 and February 2022. Mean differences (MDs) for continuous outcome variables with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were used to examine the effects of NIBS on body weight and body mass index (BMI), whereas the hedges's g test was used to measure the effects on food craving. Nineteen RCTs involving 571 participants were included in this study. Active neurostimulation (TMS and tDCS) was significantly more likely than sham stimulation to reduce body weight (TMS: -3.29 kg, 95% CI [-5.32, -1.26]; I2 = 48%; p < .001; tDCS: -0.82 kg, 95% CI [-1.01, -0.62]; I2 = 0.0%; p = .00) and BMI (TMS: -0.74, 95% CI [-1.17, -0.31]; I2 = 0% p = .00; tDCS: MD = -0.55, 95% CI [-2.32, 1.21]; I2 = 0% p = .54) as well as food cravings (TMS: g = -0.91, 95% CI [-1.68, -0.14]; I2 = 88 p = .00; tDCS: g = -0.32, 95% CI [-0.62, -0.02]; p = .04). Compared with sham stimulation, our findings indicate that active NIBS can significantly help to reduce body weight and food cravings. Hence, these novel techniques may be used as primary or adjunct tools in treating patients with obesity.

No effect of prefrontal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on food craving, food reward and subjective appetite in females displaying mild-to-moderate binge-type behaviour

Previous work suggests there may be an effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on appetite control in people at risk of overconsumption, however findings are inconsistent. This study aimed to further understand the potential eating behaviour trait-dependent effect of tDCS, specifically in those with binge-type behaviour. Seventeen females (23 ± 7 years, 25.4 ± 3.8 kg m−2) with mild-to-moderate binge eating behaviour completed two sessions of double-blind, randomised and counterbalanced anodal and sham tDCS applied over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex at 2.0 mA for 20 min. Subjective appetite visual analogue scales (VAS), the Food Craving Questionnaire-State (FCQ-S), and Leeds Food Preference Questionnaire (LFPQ) were completed pre- and post-tDCS. Participants then consumed a fixed-energy meal, followed by the VAS, FCQ-S and LFPQ. No difference between pre- and post-tDCS scores were found across fullness (p = 0.275, BF10 = 0.040), prospective consumption (p = 0.127, BF10 = 0.063), desire to eat (p = 0.247, BF10 = 0.054) or FCQ-S measures (p = 0.918, BF10 = 0.040) when comparing active and sham protocols. Only explicit liking and wanting for high-fat sweet foods were significantly different between conditions, with increased scores following active tDCS. When controlling for baseline hunger, the significant differences were removed (p = 0.138 to 0.161, BF10 = 0.810 to 1.074). The present data does not support the eating behaviour trait dependency of tDCS in a specific cohort of female participants with mild-to-moderate binge eating scores, and results align with those from individuals with healthy trait scores. This suggests participants with sub-clinical binge eating behaviour do not respond to tDCS. Future work should further explore effects in clinical and sub-clinical populations displaying susceptibility to overconsumption and weight gain.

Blood glucose variance measured by continuous glucose monitors across the menstrual cycle

Past studies on how blood glucose levels vary across the menstrual cycle have largely shown inconsistent results based on limited blood draws. In this study, 49 individuals wore a Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitor and a Fitbit Sense smartwatch while measuring their menstrual hormones and self-reporting characteristics of their menstrual cycles daily. The average duration of participation was 79.3 ± 21.2 days, leading to a total of 149 cycles and 554 phases in our dataset. We use periodic restricted cubic splines to evaluate the relationship between blood glucose and the menstrual cycle, after which we assess phase-based changes in daily median glucose level and associated physiological parameters using mixed-effects models. Results indicate that daily median glucose levels increase and decrease in a biphasic pattern, with maximum levels occurring during the luteal phase and minimum levels occurring during the late-follicular phase. These trends are robust to adjustments for participant characteristics (e.g., age, BMI, weight) and self-reported menstrual experiences (e.g., food cravings, bloating, fatigue). We identify negative associations between each of daily estrogen level, step count, and low degrees of fatigue with higher median glucose levels. Conversely, we find positive associations between higher food cravings and higher median glucose levels. This study suggests that blood glucose could be an important parameter for understanding menstrual health, prompting further investigation into how the menstrual cycle influences glucose fluctuation.

The prevalence, risk factors and lifestyle patterns of Jordanian females with premenstrual syndrome: a cross-sectional study.

The study aims to assess factors associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and the frequency of using painkillers to relieve premenstrual pain. This is a cross-sectional study of 1580 premenopausal women. An online self-administered questionnaire consists of sociodemographics, and the diagnostic criteria using the Arabic Premenstrual Syndrome Scale (A-PMS). The prevalence of PMS among Jordanian females was 94%. Moreover, a significant correlation was found between several factors, including BMI, family history of PMS, smoking, and herbal tea consumption and the psychological, physical and behavioral symptoms of PMS. Furthermore, analgesic use for pain relief and food cravings were significantly associated with psychological, physical and behavioral PMS symptoms. PMS is highly prevalent and affects women in different life aspects.

Examining the role of craving in affect regulation models of binge eating: Evidence from an ecological momentary assessment study.

Affect regulation models hypothesize that aversive affective states drive binge-eating behavior, which serves to regulate unpleasant emotions. Research using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) demonstrates that increases in guilt most strongly predict subsequent binge-eating episodes, raising the question: why would individuals with binge-eating pathology engage in a binge-eating episode when they feel guilty? Food craving is a robust predictor of binge eating and is commonly associated with subsequent feelings of guilt. The current study used EMA to test the hypothesis that food craving may promote increased feelings of guilt, which then predict an increased risk of binge eating within a sample of 109 individuals with binge-eating disorder. Multilevel mediation models indicated that increased momentary craving at Time 1 directly predicted a greater likelihood of binge eating at Time 2, and craving also indirectly predicted binge eating at Time 2 through momentary increases in guilt at Time 2. In other words, experiencing food craving at one time point was related to an increased likelihood of binge eating at the next time point, and a portion of this influence was attributable to increasing feelings of guilt. These results challenge simple affect regulation models of binge eating, suggesting that food-related anticipatory reward processes (i.e., craving) may be the primary driver of binge-eating risk and account for the increases in guilt commonly observed prior to binge-eating episodes. Although experimental studies are needed to confirm this possibility, these results suggest the importance of addressing food cravings within interventions for binge-eating disorder. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Human-Behavior-Based Personalized Meal Recommendation and Menu Planning Social System

The traditional dietary recommendation systems are basically nutrition or health-aware where the human feelings on food are ignored. Human affects vary when it comes to food cravings, and not all foods are appealing in all moods. It takes a lot of effort to learn people’s food preferences and make recommendations based on their affects and nutrition. A questionnaire-based and preference-aware meal recommendation system can be a solution. However, automated recognition of social affects on different foods and planning the menu considering nutritional demand and social affect has some significant benefits over the questionnaire-based and preference-aware meal recommendations. A patient with severe illness, a person in a coma, or patients with <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">locked-in syndrome</i> and <italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">amyotrophic lateral sclerosis</i> (ALS) cannot express their meal preferences. Therefore, the proposed framework includes a social-affective computing module to recognize the affects of different meals where the person’s affect is detected using electroencephalography (EEG) signals. EEG allows to capture the brain signals and analyze them to anticipate affective state toward a food. In this study, we have used a 14-channel wireless Emotiv Epoc <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$+$</tex-math> </inline-formula> to measure affectivity for different food items. A hierarchical ensemble method is applied to predict affectivity upon multiple feature extraction methods and Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) is used to generate a food list based on the predicted affectivity. In addition to the meal recommendation, an automated menu planning approach is also proposed considering a person’s energy intake requirement, affectivity, and nutritional values of the different menus. The bin-packing algorithm is used for the personalized menu planning of breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. The experimental findings reveal that the suggested affective computing, meal recommendation, and menu planning algorithms perform well across a variety of assessment parameters.

Metabolic and feeding adjustments during pregnancy.

Eating behaviours are determined by the integration of interoceptive and environmental inputs. During pregnancy, numerous physiological adaptations take place in the maternal organism to provide an adequate environment for embryonic growth. Among them, whole-body physiological remodelling directly influences eating patterns, commonly causing notable taste perception alterations, food aversions and cravings. Recurrent food cravings for and compulsive eating of highly palatable food can contribute to the development and maintenance of gestational overweight and obesity with potential adverse health consequences for the offspring. Although much is known about how maternal eating habits influence offspring health, the mechanisms that underlie changes in taste perception and food preference during pregnancy (which guide and promote feeding) are only just starting to be elucidated. Given the limited and diffuse understanding of the neurobiology of gestational eating patterns, the aim of this Review is to compile, integrate and discuss the research conducted on this topic in both experimental models and humans. This article sheds light on the mechanisms that drive changes in female feeding behaviours during distinct physiological states. Understanding these processes is crucial to improve gestational parent health and decrease the burden of metabolic and food-related diseases in future generations.

Dorsal striatal response to taste is modified by obesity and insulin resistance.

In preclinical models, insulin resistance in the dorsal striatum (DS) contributes to overeating. Although human studies support the concept of central insulin resistance, they have not investigated its effect on consummatory reward-induced brain activity. Taste-induced activation was assessed in the caudate and putamen of the DS with blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging. Three phenotypically distinct groups were studied: metabolically healthy lean, metabolically healthy obesity, and metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO; presumed to have central insulin resistance). Participants with MUO also completed a weight loss intervention followed by a second functional magnetic resonance imaging session. The three groups were significantly different at baseline consistent with the design. The metabolically healthy lean group had a primarily positive BOLD response, the MUO group had a primarily negative BOLD response, and the metabolically healthy obesity group had a response in between the two other groups. Food craving was predicted by taste-induced activation. After weight loss in the MUO group, taste-induced activation increased in the DS. These data support the hypothesis that insulin resistance and obesity contribute to aberrant responses to taste in the DS, which is only partially attenuated by weight loss. Aberrant responses to food exposure may be a barrier to weight loss.

Eating Causes Clinically Significant Distress: Food Addiction as a Disordered Belief in Anorexia Nervosa?

Anorexia nervosa (AN) is characterized by an intense fear of weight gain, dietary restriction resulting in a significant weight loss compared with what is expected, and a disturbance in body image on a psychological basis. Recently, cases of AN associated with food addiction (FA) were described in almost all patients (69%), bringing a controversial aspect to the restrictive subtype (AN-r) that, in theory, even in the absence of binge eating, would present difficulties regarding control. Objectives: To report a case of an adolescent with AN-r associated with FA. Methods: Clinical history, current status, psychiatric diagnosis, and scores on scales to assess FA, food craving, and binge eating were analyzed. Results: This case report emphasizes the importance of new diagnostic tools to identify FA and whether it exists in people with AN-r beyond distress regarding eating behavior, cravings, and guilt. Eating behavior also presents a negative value that delays the elaboration process and the emergence of food cravings. In addition, an analysis of the association between the diagnostic criteria for substance use disorder, binge eating disorder, anorexia nervosa, and bulimia nervosa with the Yale Food Addiction Scale statements and criteria was discovered. Conclusions: Based on the characteristics of AN, emotional dysregulation and eating difficulties seem to overlap with FA symptoms.

P16-003-23 Changes in Food Cravings and Eating Behavior During a 4-Week High Fiber Feeding.

P16-003-23 Changes in Food Cravings and Eating Behavior During a 4-Week High Fiber Feeding.

Nature-Related Odors Influence Stress and Eating Behavior: A Laboratory Experiment With Pine and Grass Volatiles

Before and after Trier Social Stress Test, 91 participants (18–50 years, 67% women) inhaled one odor during 10 min: Scots pine, grass (=cis-3-hexenol), or control (=demineralized water). Group differences were tested on repeated measurements of stress (affect reports, salivary cortisol and heart rate variability) and eating behavior (food choice and craving). Both nature olfactory exposures improved some stress outcomes. Both were associated with lower cortisol in non-stress conditions, but only grass odor was more beneficial for negative affect decrease after stress. No effect on heart rate variability was seen. Some contradictory findings were present for eating behavior. In non-stress situations, grass odor increased vegetable preference, while the pine odor group had higher sweet high-fat snack preference. Grass odor was also reported to induce healthier food choices. During stress recovery, both pine and grass odor groups had higher preference to sweet high-fat snacks.

Obesity and hyperandrogenism are implicated with anxiety, depression and food cravings in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

PCOS is associated with mood/eating disorders. Negative body image due to obesity, acne, hirsutism seems to play significant role, but hormonal derangements are probably implicated. To investigate the relation between insulin resistance (IR), obesity and hyperandrogenism with mood and eating disorders in women with PCOS. Forty-nine (60.5%) PCOS women and 32(39.5%) age- and BMI-matched healthy controls were enrolled. Emotional/food disorders were evaluated by using self-administered questionnaires: Eating Attitudes Test (EAT)-26, Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Hamilton anxiety scale (HAS) and Food Craving Questionnaire-Trait (FCQ-T). The two groups had no significant differences regarding age, BMI and HOMA2-IR. PCOS women had significantly higher DHEA-S (p < 0.0001), Δ4Α (p < 0.0001) and Testosterone (p < 0.0001). When the two groups were subclassified according to the BMI, in lean (BMI < 25 kg/m2) or overweight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2), no significant differences were found with respect to EAT-26 and HAS. BDI-II was associated with obesity (overweight vs lean PCOS: 20.5 ± 6.4 vs 9.8 ± 3.9; p = 0.037) and hyperandrogenism (overweight PCOS vs overweight controls: 20.5 ± 6.4 vs 14.8 ± 8.1; p < 0.0001; lean PCOS vs overweight controls: 16.7 ± 4.7 vs 14.8 ± 8.1; p = 0.01). Additionally, a significant correlation between BDI-II and DHEA-S (rho = 0.305; p = 0.006), Δ4Α (rho = 0.259; p = 0.02) and Testosterone (rho = 0.328; p = 0.003) was reported. FCQ-T was associated with obesity (overweight PCOS vs lean PCOS: 47.6 ± 9.9 vs 29.3 ± 8.9; p < 0.0001; overweight controls vs lean PCOS: 45.5 ± 15.7 vs 29.3 ± 8.9; p < 0.0001), whereas a correlation between FCQ-T and BMI (rho = 0.593; p = 0.0001), waist circumference (rho = 0.554; p = 0.0001) and HOMA2-IR (rho = 0.328; p = 0.003) was documented. Obesity and hyperandrogenism increase the risk of depression and food cravings in women with PCOS, leading to a vicious circle of further aggravation of obesity and metabolic syndrome.

Predicting food craving in everyday life through smartphone-derived sensor and usage data.

Food craving relates to unhealthy eating behaviors such as overeating or binge eating and is thus a promising target for digital interventions. Yet, craving varies strongly across the day and is more likely in some contexts (external, internal) than in others. Prediction of food cravings ahead of time would enable preventive interventions. The objective of this study was to investigate whether upcoming food cravings could be detected and predicted from passive smartphone sensor data (excluding geolocation information) without the need for repeated questionnaires. Momentary food craving ratings, given six times a day for 14 days by 56 participants, served as the dependent variable. Predictor variables were environmental noise, light, device movement, screen activity, notifications, and time of the day recorded from 150 to 30 min prior to these ratings. Individual high vs. low craving ratings could be predicted on the test set with a mean area under the curve (AUC) of 0.78. This outperformed a baseline model trained on past craving values in 85% of participants by 14%. Yet, this AUC value is likely the upper bound and needs to be independently validated with longer data sets that allow a split into training, validation, and test sets. Craving states can be forecast from external and internal circumstances as these can be measured through smartphone sensors or usage patterns in most participants. This would allow for just-in-time adaptive interventions based on passive data collection and hence with minimal participant burden.

Ассоциации лептина и адипонектина у больных синдромом раздраженного кишечника с избыточной массой тела и ожирением

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in overweight and obese individuals is characterized by a more severe course than in patients with normal weight. The purpose. To assess the level of adipokines (leptin and adiponectin) in blood serum, the correlation of these laboratory markers with the clinical manifestations of IBS, quality of life, eating habits, and signs of anxiety and depression based on the results of using a special questionnaire in patients with IBS. Material and methods. An open cohort cross-sectional study was conducted with the inclusion of 175 participants aged 18 to 44 years (mean age 30.06 ± 6.15 years). Group 1 included 100 obese or overweight IBS patients aged 18 to 44 years (mean age 30.63 ± 6.37 years, BMI 25.88 ± 6.28 kg/m2). In group 1, subgroup 1A included 50 people with IBS associated with overweight or obesity. In subgroup 1B – 50 people suffering from IBS, with normal weight. Group 2 included 75 people without IBS, aged 19 to 43 years (mean age 29.31 ± 5.81 years, BMI 27.80 ± 6.20 kg/m2). Subgroup 2A included 50 non-IBS participants who were overweight or obese. Subgroup 2B included 25 apparently healthy participants. IBS symptoms were assessed using a 10-point scale. Using verified questionnaires, the severity of gastrointestinal symptoms, the presence of anxiety and depression, the level of specific anxiety, quality of life and eating habits were assessed. Results. IBS patients with overweight and obesity are characterized by higher levels of leptin and low levels of adiponectin than patients with normal weight (Mann – Whitney test, p &lt; 0.05). Adipokine levels correlate with high cravings for sweet, fatty, starchy, and salty foods. A higher concentration of leptin is characteristic of patients suffering from IBS with a predominance of constipation (Mann – Whitney test, p &lt; 0.05). High levels of leptin and low levels of adiponectin in overweight and obese IBS patients correlate with more severe symptoms of abdominal pain, flatulence, poor quality of life, and more frequent signs of anxiety and depression (Spirmen test p &lt; 0.05, Mann – Whitney test, p &lt; 0.05). Conclusion. The results obtained suggest a significant role of adipokines in the formation of more severe symptoms in IBS patients with overweight and obesity compared to patients with normal weight

128-OR: The Effect of Tirzepatide during Weight Loss on Food Intake, Appetite, Food Preference, and Food Craving in People with Obesity

Tirzepatide (TZP) promotes significant and clinically meaningful weight loss. In a randomized blinded clinical trial in people with obesity undergoing caloric restriction, we investigated the effect of TZP vs Placebo (PBO) on food intake during ad libitum lunch and dinner, appetite, food preference and craving. In this 18wk phase 1 study, 55 people with obesity, with baseline body weight of 102.8 kg were randomized (1:1) to TZP 15 mg or PBO. Food intake was measured during ad libitum lunch (664 kcal, PBO and 682 kcal, TZP) and dinner (1178 kcal, PBO and 1190 kcal, TZP) at baseline and after 18wk of treatment. We measured appetite during fasting and standardized mixed meal tolerance test (sMMTT) with visual analogue scale (VAS) and retrospective VAS (average ratings over the previous week). Food cravings and preferences were measured with the Food Craving Inventory (FCI) and Food Preference Questionnaire (FPQ) at baseline, 8wk and 18wk. At 18wk, mean body weight loss was 16.7 kg with TZP and 8.3 kg with PBO (p&amp;lt;0.001). TZP significantly decreased food intake from baseline during lunch (-285±42 kcal) and dinner (-631±58 kcal) compared to PBO (60± 42, and -116±58 kcal, respectively). TZP significantly lowered appetite at fasting and at each time point during the sMMTT, resulting in decreased hunger and prospective food consumption and increased fullness. Based on retrospective VAS, appetite changes started at 1wk. TZP significantly decreased food preference scores in 10 of 12 FPQ metrics at 8wk and 18wk compared to PBO. TZP significantly decreased the overall FCI score and the sweets, carbohydrates and starches, and fast-food fats sub scores, but not the high fat and fruit and vegetable sub scores, at 8wk and 18wk, compared to PBO. In conclusion, TZP decreased food intake, appetite and food craving and preference. TZP appears to reduce body weight via reductions in food intake and the drive to eat. Disclosure C.K.Martin: Board Member; EHE Health, Wondr Health, Other Relationship; ABGIL, Research Support; Pack Health, Evidation Health, Lilly, WW International, Inc. T.Coskun: Employee; Eli Lilly and Company, Stock/Shareholder; Eli Lilly and Company. E.Ravussin: Advisory Panel; Novartis, Research Support; Eli Lilly and Company, Novartis AG. G.Sanchez-delgado: Research Support; Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk, Abbott, Maastricht instruments, Vyaire Medical, ParvoMedics, Cosmed, Speaker's Bureau; Eli Lilly and Company. H.Nishiyama: None. J.Li: Employee; Eli Lilly and Company, Stock/Shareholder; Eli Lilly and Company. S.Urva: Employee; Eli Lilly and Company, Stock/Shareholder; Eli Lilly and Company. E.J.Pratt: Employee; Eli Lilly and Company. Z.Milicevic: Employee; Eli Lilly and Company. A.Haupt: Employee; Lilly, Stock/Shareholder; Lilly. Funding Eli Lilly and Company

Open-label placebo treatment for reducing overeating in children: A study protocol for a randomized clinical trial with an app-assisted approach

Food advertising has become almost ubiquitous in Western societies. In adults as well as in children this omnipresence of food cues has been shown to trigger cravings and overeating, which can lead to overweight or even obesity. This is concerning because obesity is a leading cause of preventable diseases. The planned project aims at reducing craving and overeating in overweight/obese children using a placebo treatment. A total of 80 children (40 girls, 40 boys; aged between 8 and 12 years; body mass index >90th percentile) will take part in the study. A randomized controlled cross-over design will be implemented, which will include four weeks with daily placebo treatment and four weeks without placebo treatment. The placebo will be introduced without deception as an open-label placebo (OLP), that can help to control food cravings. The study will use an app-assisted approach: The children will rate the intensity of their cravings, the occurrence of binge-eating episodes, their emotional state, and placebo usage via a smartphone application. It is expected that the OLP will help the children to reduce cravings and body weight. If effective, this OLP approach could be implemented in weight-control programs for children.

Association of inflammation biomarkers with food cravings and appetite changes across the menstrual cycle

Premenstrual symptoms, including food cravings, are often a regular complaint among menstruating women. However, existing evidence regarding the biological mechanisms by which these food cravings occur remains unclear. Inflammation may play an essential role in the occurrence of these food cravings before menstruation. The purpose of the present study was to examine the associations between inflammatory markers and the risk of moderate/severe food cravings while accounting for changes in hormone levels and stress across the menstrual cycle. The BioCycle Study followed women (n=259) aged 18-44 for two menstrual cycles. Food cravings (via questionnaire) were assessed up to four times per cycle. Each assessment corresponded to menses and mid-follicular, ovulation, and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. A wide range of cytokine and chemokine levels (hsCRP, GCSF, GMCSF, IL-4, IL-6, RANTES, MIP1B, etc.) were assessed in blood samples collected at up to 8 visits per cycle, with visits timed using fertility monitors. Cravings for chocolate, sweets, salty, and other foods, and changes in appetite were determined to estimate the odds of moderate or severe cravings. Associations between inflammatory markers and risk of reporting a moderate/severe craving symptom at each cycle visit was determined using weighted generalized linear models (e.g., marginal structural models). Models were adjusted for age, BMI, and race, as well as time-varying covariates such as estradiol, stress, leptin, and total energy intake, and accounted for repeated measures (i.e., multiple cycles per woman). Both inflammatory markers and reports of cravings were modeled to account for variation at each visit. An association between higher inflammatory biomarkers such as hsCRP, GCSF, GMCSF, IL-4, IL-6, RANTES, MIP, and increased risk of moderate/severe cravings were identified across the menstrual cycle all risk ratio>1, all CIs range 0.71-2.38. hsCRP retained statistical significance after false discovery rate correction with chocolate, sweet, and salty cravings, while GCSF, GMCSF, IL-6, and RANTES retained significance with chocolate and sweet cravings only. and Relevance: The results suggest a potential role of inflammation in food cravings and appetite changes across the menstrual cycle.