Maladaptive Eating Behavior Research Articles

Neurocomputational Mechanisms Underlying Differential Reinforcement Learning From Wins and Losses in Obesity With and Without Binge Eating

BackgroundBinge-eating disorder (BED) is thought of as a disorder of cognitive control, but evidence regarding its neurocognitive mechanisms is inconclusive. Key limitations of previous research include a lack of consistent separation between effects of BED and obesity and a disregard for self-report evidence suggesting that neurocognitive alterations may emerge primarily in loss- or harm-avoidance contexts. MethodsTo address these gaps, in this longitudinal study we investigated behavioral flexibility and its underlying neurocomputational processes in reward-seeking and loss-avoidance contexts. Obese participants with BED, obese participants without BED, and healthy normal-weight participants (n = 96) performed a probabilistic reversal learning task during functional imaging, with different blocks focused on obtaining wins or avoiding losses. They were reinvited for a 6-month follow-up assessment. ResultsAnalyses informed by computational models of reinforcement learning showed that unlike obese participants with BED, obese participants without BED performed worse in the win than in the loss condition. Computationally, this was explained by differential learning sensitivities in the win versus loss conditions in the groups. In the brain, this was echoed in differential neural learning signals in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex per condition. The differences were subtle but scaled with BED symptoms, such that more severe BED symptoms were associated with increasing bias toward improved learning from wins versus losses. Across conditions, obese participants with BED switched more between choice options than healthy normal-weight participants. This was reflected in diminished representation of choice certainty in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex. ConclusionsOur study highlights the importance of distinguishing between obesity with and without BED to identify unique neurocomputational alterations underlying different styles of maladaptive eating behavior.

Bidirectional relationships between nicotine vaping and maladaptive eating behaviors among young adults

BackgroundPast research indicates that young adult cigarette smokers are at risk of engaging in maladaptive eating behaviors (MEBs); however, whether this relationship extends to nicotine vaping is unclear. The current study assessed bidirectional associations between four types of MEBs and nicotine vaping among young adults. Methods1,303 young adults (20.5 ± 2.3 years; 63 % female) from a public, urban university were recruited and completed online surveys at six-month intervals from spring 2021 (W1) to spring 2023 (W5). Past 30-day nicotine vaping and four types of MEBs (susceptibility to external cues, emotional eating, routine restraint, and compensatory restraint) were evaluated. ResultsLongitudinal cross-lagged models examined the bidirectional relationships between past 30-day nicotine vaping and each type of MEB across five waves. Nicotine vaping predicted both susceptibility to external cues (β = 0.10, p <.05; Wave 2 to 3) and emotional eating (β = 0.08, p <.05; Wave 1 to 2). A significant cross-lag regression (Wave 4 to 5) showed nicotine vaping predicted to routine restraint (β = 0.08, p <.05), and routine restraint predicted to nicotine vaping (β = 0.12, p <.05). ConclusionsResults indicated that nicotine vaping predicted MEBs; however, the type of MEB differed across waves, which may have been due to the COVID-19 pandemic context. Nicotine vaping predicted to MEBs reflecting vulnerability to the external environment and emotion regulation during a period of heightened restrictions, whereas later when pandemic restrictions had ceased nicotine vaping predicted only to routine restraint. Integrating research and practice on nicotine vaping and MEBs may inform public health efforts to decrease co-occurring health-risks in young adulthood.

Characteristic Features of Dietary Patterns and Physical Activity among Medical Students

Introduction This paper deals with the investigation of controlled risk factors associated with body weight disorders of young people with overweight and obesity. Authors are convinced that the formation of a conscious attitude to health in youth and early diagnosis of any abnormalities through the dynamic monitoring of adolescents and young people with excess body weight could help in the solution to this problem. Methods Statistical and sociological methods were used during the investigation. 80 students from a medical university participated in this research. In the survey, Google Forms online application were used. The authors followed all the principles of bioethics and medical deontology in conformity with the requirements of the Helsinki Declaration. The questionnaire contained points about the diet, food habits and preferences, socio-economic status of the respondent’s family, the level of their physical activity, knowledge about a healthy lifestyle, and relationships in the group. Results The primary processing of the obtained data was carried out using the methods of descriptive and analytical statistics with the provision of results in the form of relative indicators (Р, %) with an error (m, p). The specificity of the eating behavior of youth was connected with the absence of a food regime, the multiplicity of meals, and the low level of eating culture (lack of a permanent place to eat or eating in front of a computer or TV). Moreover, such habits, like eating before going to bed, eating under stress, or frequently visiting fast food restaurants, were typical for this group of population. A large number of young people were found to be prone to use advertised products. Conclusion Young people’s awareness of healthy nutrition has been found to be insufficient, and the level of physical activity in the studied group as unsatisfactory. Significant features of physical activity associated with maladaptive eating behavior have been observed to be a lack of physical activity on weekdays, absence of morning gymnastics, failure to comply with the norms of rational nutrition in the family, or low level of information about healthy nutrition.

Association Between Maladaptive Eating Behaviors Among Black Women and Vicarious Racial Discrimination Following a High-Profile Event.

Evidence suggests that racial discrimination causes stress among non-Hispanic Black women, and some Black women may cope with exposure to vicarious racial discrimination by engaging in maladaptive eating behaviors. We examined eating behaviors among Black women (N = 254) before and after Freddie Gray's death while in police custody. Maladaptive eating behaviors were assessed using the three-factor eating questionnaire. Our independent variables included the following: (1) time period and (2) geographic proximity to the event. Three two-way analysis of covariance tests were conducted to assess potential effects of geographic proximity (close, distant), time period in relation to unrest (before, after unrest), and their interaction on emotional eating, uncontrolled eating, and cognitive restraint controlling for participant age. There was a statistically significant main effect of proximity to the unrest on emotional eating, F (1, 252) = 5.64, p = .018, and partial η2 = .022 such that women living in close geographic proximity to the unrest reported higher mean levels of emotional eating as compared to those living more distant to the unrest. There was also a borderline statistically significant interaction between geographic proximity and time period on cognitive restraint, F (1, 252) = 3.89, p = .050, and partial η2 = .015. Our study found a relationship between vicarious racial discrimination and maladaptive eating behaviors among Black women. Future work should examine stress related to vicarious racial discrimination and maladaptive eating behaviors longitudinally.

Uncovering neural pathways underlying bulimia nervosa: resting-state neural connectivity disruptions correlate with maladaptive eating behaviors

PurposeBulimia nervosa (BN) is characterized by recurrent binge-eating episodes and inappropriate compensatory behaviors. This study investigated alterations in resting-state surface-based neural activity in BN patients and explored correlations between brain activity and eating behavior.MethodsA total of 26 BN patients and 28 healthy controls were enrolled. Indirect measurement of cerebral cortical activity and functional connectivity (FC) analyses were performed in Surfstat. A principal component analysis (PCA) model was used to capture the commonalities within the behavioral questionnaires from the BN group.ResultsCompared with the healthy control group, the BN group showed decreased surface-based two-dimensional regional homogeneity in the right superior parietal lobule (SPL). Additionally, the BN group showed decreased FC between the right SPL and the bilateral lingual gyrus and increased FC between the right SPL and the left caudate nucleus and right putamen. In the FC–behavior association analysis, the second principal component (PC2) was negatively correlated with FC between the right SPL and the left caudate nucleus. The third principal component (PC3) was negatively correlated with FC between the right SPL and the left lingual gyrus and positively correlated with FC between the right SPL and the right lingual gyrus.ConclusionWe revealed that the right SPL undergoes reorganization with respect to specific brain regions at the whole-brain level in BN. In addition, our results suggest a correlation between brain reorganization and maladaptive eating behavior. These findings may provide useful information to better understand the neural mechanisms of BN.Level of evidenceV, descriptive study.

Racial Differences in Psychiatric Symptoms, Maladaptive Eating, and Lifestyle Behaviors After Bariatric Surgery.

There are several psychological and behavioral factors associated with poorer outcomes following bariatric surgery, yet it is unknown whether and how these factors may differ by race. In this cross-sectional study, individuals who underwent bariatric surgery from 2018 to 2021 and up to 4 years post-surgery were invited to complete an online survey. Psychiatric symptoms, maladaptive eating patterns, self-monitoring behaviors, and exercise frequency were examined. Participants (N = 733) were 87% women, 63% White, with a mean age of 44 years. Analyses of covariance demonstrated that White individuals endorsed greater anxiety symptoms (p =.01) and emotional eating due to depression (p = .01), whereas Black individuals endorsed greater depression severity (p = .02). Logistic regression analyses demonstrated that White individuals were more likely to experience loss of control eating (OR= 1.7, p = .002), grazing (OR= 2.53, p <.001), and regular self-weighing (OR= 1.41, p <.001) than Black individuals, and were less likely to skip meals (OR= .61, p = .04), or partake in nighttime eating (OR= .40, p <.001). There were no racial differences in binge eating, emotional eating due to anxiety or frustration, use of a food diary, or exercise. Thus, depressive symptoms, skipping meals, and nighttime eating may be important, modifiable intervention targets to optimize the benefits of bariatric surgery and promote equitable outcomes.

Change in food choice during acute treatment and the effect on longer-term outcome in patients with anorexia nervosa.

Restriction of food intake is a central pathological feature of anorexia nervosa (AN). Maladaptive eating behavior and, specifically, limited intake of calorie-dense foods are resistant to change and contribute to poor long-term outcomes. This study is a preliminary examination of whether change in food choices during inpatient treatment is related to longer-term clinical course. Individuals with AN completed a computerized Food Choice Task at the beginning and end of inpatient treatment to determine changes in high-fat and self-controlled food choices. Linear regression and longitudinal analyses tested whether change in task behavior predicted short-term outcome (body mass index [BMI] at discharge) and longer-term outcome (BMI and eating disorder psychopathology). Among 88 patients with AN, BMI improved significantly with hospital treatment (p < 0.001), but Food Choice Task outcomes did not change significantly. Change in high-fat and self-controlled choices was not associated with BMI at discharge (r = 0.13, p = 0.22 and r = 0.10, p = 0.39, respectively). An increase in the proportion of high-fat foods selected (β = 0.91, p = 0.02) and a decrease in the use of self-control (β = -1.50, p = 0.001) predicted less decline in BMI over 3 years after discharge. Short-term treatment is associated with improvement in BMI but with no significant change, on average, in choices made in a task known to predict actual eating. However, the degree to which individuals increased high-fat choices during treatment and decreased the use of self-control over food choice were associated with reduced weight loss over the following 3 years, underscoring the need to focus on changing eating behavior in treatment of AN.

Level of body image satisfaction and prevalence of maladaptive eating behavior among sports university students with different nutritional status

Aim. To assess the level of body image satisfaction and the prevalence of maladaptive eating behavior (МEB) among students of a sports university with different types of nutritional status (NS).Materials and methods. 278 students of the Volga Region State University of Physical Culture, Sports and Tourism were surveyed using a body image questionnaire and the Eating Disorder Inventory scale. The body composition of participants was assessed. The distribution of students by NS types was carried out on the basis of BMI data, percentage of fat mass, and the discrepancy between actual and ideal weight.Results. The study showed that 47.5 ± 3.0% and 38.5±2.9% of the respondents had an insufficient and normal NS, respectively. Only 14.0±2.1% of the students had an excessive NS. Among those extremely dissatisfied with their appearance, individuals with an insufficient NS prevailed (69.5±4.5%), with 21.0±3.9% having an excessive NS and only 9.5±2.9% having a normal NS. The largest number of individuals with clinical manifestations of MEB was established among the students with an insufficient NS (61.8±6.1%).Conclusion. Among the surveyed sports university students, individuals with insufficient and normal NS prevailed; the share of students with excessive NS was insignificant. Insufficient NS was often associated with a distortion in the perception of the body image and maladaptive EB symptoms. The majority of individuals with an adequate attitude towards their appearance had a normal NS. Psychological characteristics and behavioral stereotypes typical of people with MEB were found in students not only with insufficient, but also with normal NS types.

Internalization of the athletic-ideal in a female South African student sample

The investigation into the existence of a thin-ideal internalization has been the focus of research in the past two decades. A clear relationship between this ideal and disturbed eating and body related disturbances was found. Minimal research on the athletic-ideal and relevant outcomes when internalized can be found. This quantitative cross-sectional study explored to what extent student participants from three university campuses (n = 476) have internalized the athletic-ideal and investigated the relationship between this internalization, body dissatisfaction, maladaptive eating and exercise behavior using four online self-report questionnaires. Results found that the athletic-ideal is gaining popularity. Furthermore, significant relationships between athletic-internalization, obligatory exercise and dieting were found, yet yielded a poor relationship with body dissatisfaction. Like other studies, it appears that the athletic-ideal is less detrimental to body dissatisfaction and dieting than the thin-ideal. A stronger association between obligatory exercise was found with the athletic-ideal than with the thin-ideal.

A paraventricular thalamus to insular cortex glutamatergic projection gates “emotional” stress-induced binge eating in females

It is well-established that stress and negative affect trigger eating disorder symptoms and that the brains of men and women respond to stress in different ways. Indeed, women suffer disproportionately from emotional or stress-related eating, as well as associated eating disorders such as binge eating disorder. Nevertheless, our understanding of the precise neural circuits driving this maladaptive eating behavior, particularly in women, remains limited. We recently established a clinically relevant model of ‘emotional’ stress-induced binge eating whereby only female mice display binge eating in response to an acute “emotional” stressor. Here, we combined neuroanatomic, transgenic, immunohistochemical and pathway-specific chemogenetic approaches to investigate whole brain functional architecture associated with stress-induced binge eating in females, focusing on the role of Vglut2 projections from the paraventricular thalamus (PVTVglut2+) to the medial insular cortex in this behavior. Whole brain activation mapping and hierarchical clustering of Euclidean distances revealed distinct patterns of coactivation unique to stress-induced binge eating. At a pathway-specific level, PVTVglut2+ cells projecting to the medial insular cortex were specifically activated in response to stress-induced binge eating. Subsequent chemogenetic inhibition of this pathway suppressed stress-induced binge eating. We have identified a distinct PVTVglut2+ to insular cortex projection as a key driver of “emotional” stress-induced binge eating in female mice, highlighting a novel circuit underpinning this sex-specific behavior.

Perception of the body image and its influence on the development of maladaptive eating behaviors in sports university students

Aim to assess the body image perception and its influence on the development of maladaptive eating behavior (MEB) among students of a sports university.&#x0D; Material and methods. A survey was conducted among 768 students using a self-image questionnaire (SIQ) and an Eating Behavior Assessment Scale (EBAS).&#x0D; Results. 43.25.1% of sportswomen and 42.910.8% of sportsmen of complex coordination sports had a pronounced degree of appearance dissatisfaction (AD). The AD level was assessed as "slight dissatisfaction" in most students of other sports and non-athletes (in 50.96.7% of athletes of cyclic sports, 37.56.1% of wrestlers, 38.84.02% of sports games athletes (SGA), 38.2 6.5% of male non-athletes, 40.6 8.7% of female wrestlers). In 31.64.8% of the female SGA and in 31.74.2% women non-athletes we observed "moderate dissatisfaction". The AD level correlated with the presence of clinical manifestations of MEB (r=0.5, p0.001) and with the presence of psychological traits and behavioral stereotypes characteristic of people with MEB (r=0.279, p0.001).&#x0D; Conclusion. A distorted perception of one's own body, namely dissatisfaction with one's appearance, was related with the presence of the MEB symptoms in the students of the sports university. The self-image questionnaire (SIQ) can be used as a screening method to determine the risk group for developing MEB at the prenosological stage. The ranking of sports by the number of athletes with pronounced appearance dissatisfaction can be used to determine the order of development of targeted preventive measures, taking into account the specifics of the sport, the characteristics of the training process and competitive stages.

Prevalence of disadaptive eating behavior among sports university students

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have proven the importance of studying the actual nutrition of student youth. However, the prevalence of maladaptive eating behavior (EB) among student-athletes and non-athletes remains unexplored.&#x0D; AIM: to assess the prevalence of maladaptive EB among students of a sports university.&#x0D; METHODS: a survey was conducted of 768 students of the Volga Region State University of Physical Culture, Sports and Tourism using the Eating Behavior Assessment Scale (EBAS). Statistical analysis of the results was performed using SPSS Statistics v. 19.0 (IBM, USA).&#x0D; RESULTS: Оnly 41.11.8% of students of a sports university have no signs of maladaptive EB. The presence of deviations according to the subscales of EBAS was revealed in 72.94.5% of martial artists, 57.84.6% of athletes of complex coordination sports and 55.84.2% of cyclic sports, 55.03.2% of players and 59.43.7% of non-athletes. However, no statistically significant gender differences were found. Clinical symptoms of maladaptive EB were detected in 10.32.3% of non-athletes and 8.61.2% of athletes. At the same time, in student-athletes of individual sports, they were detected 1.7 times more often than in team sports (2=22.36; df=9; р=0.008). Psychological characteristics and stereotypes of behavior characteristic of people with maladaptive EB were found in 33.13.6% of non-athletes and 28.51.9% of student-athletes.&#x0D; CONCLUSION: Among the university sports students, there is a high prevalence of maladaptive EB among combat athletes. Whereas, among athletes, and female athletes of team sports, as well as young men and women who do not participate in sports, clinical symptoms of maladaptive EB have been relatively uncommon, however, psychological and behavioral stereotypes typical of persons with maladaptive EB are more often detected, which can be considered as a high predisposition to the development of such conditions.

Supplemental Material for Constant Vigilance: The Impact of Weight Stigma, Vigilance, and Internalization on Maladaptive Eating Behaviors

Supplemental Material for Constant Vigilance: The Impact of Weight Stigma, Vigilance, and Internalization on Maladaptive Eating Behaviors

РАСПРОСТРАНЕННОСТЬ РАССТРОЙСТВ ПИЩЕВОГО ПОВЕДЕНИЯ У СТУДЕНТОВ-МЕДИКОВ И ИХ ЗАВИСИМОСТЬ ОТ ПОЛА И ИНДЕКСА МАССЫ ТЕЛА

The aim of the study is to determine the interconnection of eating disorders with gender and body mass index (hereinafter BMI). The method of prenosological diagnostics of maladaptive eating behavior was used for the work, Scales 1, 2 and 3 were analyzed. The data obtained were processed manually, then analyzed using Excel. As a result, it was revealed that 43 (33.8%) students have positive results on one or more scales. Analyzing the data obtained, the relationship between gender, BMI and the development of eating disorders was not found. Also, students of the Belarusian State Medical University have a predisposition to the development of eating disorders.

Eating behavior in atypical anorexia nervosa.

Atypical anorexia nervosa (AN) has been increasingly identified in the community and in clinical settings. Initial studies indicate that psychological symptoms are similar or more severe among patients with atypical AN, as compared with AN. This study examined whether eating behavior differed among patients with AN (n= 98), patients with atypical AN (n= 18), and healthy controls (HC, n= 75). Adults and adolescents chose what to eat from a standardized, laboratory-based multi-item meal. Total intake, macronutrient composition, diet variety, and energy density were compared between groups. Both AN and atypical AN severely restricted caloric intake as compared with HC (431 ± 396 kcal and 340 ± 338 kcal vs. 879 ± 350 kcal, F2,188= 35.4, p< .001). Individuals with AN and atypical AN did not differ in the mean intake of total calories or percentage of calories from fat (15.2± 25.2% vs. 11.5± 16.9%). This study demonstrates that individuals with atypical AN are at least as restrictive in their food intake as individuals with AN, and the restriction of dietary fat is particularly notable. Examination of eating behavior in a larger sample would be useful to replicate these findings. The current study highlights the need to understand maladaptive eating behavior in atypical AN in order to develop appropriate treatment recommendations. Atypical anorexia nervosa is emerging as a prevalent eating disorder in community and clinical populations. The findings that patients with atypical anorexia nervosa limit calorie and fat intake in a pattern similar to that of patients with anorexia nervosa highlights the need for research to identify appropriate treatment strategies for normalization of eating patterns.

Disinhibition augments thirst perception from two dehydrating stimuli in men

Physiological systems controlling water and energy ingestion are coordinated. Whether maladaptive eating behavior and appetite for water are linked is unknown. Thus, we sought to investigate the association between maladaptive eating and both thirst and water drinking behavior with two dehydrating conditions. Twenty-two lean men and 20 men with obesity (mean age 32.3 ± 8.4 years and 30.0 ± 11.1 years, respectively) completed the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ) and Gormally Binge Eating Scale. On separate days, volunteers were dehydrated by a 2-h hypertonic saline infusion and a 24-h water deprivation, and thirst was measured on a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS) during each procedure. After each dehydrating condition, ad libitum water intake was measured. In the saline infusion, higher Disinhibition on the TFEQ was associated with thirst in the lean group (β = 4.2 mm VAS, p = 0.03) but not in the group with obesity (p = 0.51). In the water-deprivation condition, higher Disinhibition was also associated with thirst in the lean group (β = 5.6 mm VAS, p = 0.01) with the strength of relationship being 3.5-fold stronger than that observed in the group with obesity (β = 1.6 mm VAS, p = 0.0003). Hunger, Restraint, and binge-eating scores were not associated with thirst in either dehydrating condition (all p > 0.05). Maladaptive eating behaviors were not associated with ad libitum water intake (all p > 0.05). Disinhibition is associated with higher thirst perception in healthy weight individuals and may be attenuated in obesity. The characteristics of disinhibition which typically includes a heightened readiness to eat, may reflect a more general phenotype that also reflects a readiness to drink.

Food Addiction, Weight Perception, Dieting, and Maladaptive Eating Behaviors in U.S. Young Adults: An Observational, Prospective, Nationally Representative Cohort Study

ObjectivesThis study examines relations of food addiction with weight-related and maladaptive eating behaviors in a nationally representative sample of U.S. young adults. MethodsData come from the final annual assessment of the NEXT Generation Health Study, which followed a cohort of U.S. emerging adults from 2010–2017 (year 7 n = 2323, age 22.6 ± 0.5 years, 81% retention). Food addiction was assessed using the modified Yale Food Addiction Scale. Participants self-reported height, weight, weight perception (underweight, about right, overweight), currently attempting weight loss (vs. not), and 10 maladaptive eating behaviors (e.g., self-induced vomiting, laxative use, diet pills). Logistic (rare outcomes) and log-binomial (common outcomes) regression analyses accounting for the complex survey design estimated relations of food addiction with dieting, perceived overweight, and maladaptive eating behaviors. ResultsThe prevalence of food addiction was 4.7% (95% CI: 3.6% –6.2%). Forty-seven percent of young adults (95% CI: 46.9%, 52.1%) reported attempting weight loss; 45.6% reported perceived overweight (95% CI: 40.9%, 50.3%) and 7.1% (95% CI: 4.5%, 11.0%) reported any maladaptive eating behavior. In bivariate regressions, females had greater odds of food addiction, maladaptive eating behaviors, perceived overweight, and attempting weight loss; outcomes were not associated with other sociodemographics. Attempting weight loss (RR = 3.4, 95% CI: 1.7, 7.1, p = .002), perceived overweight (RR = 6.3, 95% CI: 2.9, 13.6, p < .001), and maladaptive eating behaviors (OR = 3.3, 95% CI: 1.7, 6.5, p = .001) were positively associated with food addiction adjusted for sex and weight status. ConclusionsFindings indicate considerable overlap between food addiction, perceived overweight, weight loss attempt, and subclinical maladaptive eating behaviors. Food addiction may be an important consideration in the treatment and management of young adults with multiple aspects of problematic eating. Funding SourcesFunding was provided by the NICHD Intramural Research Program, NIAAA, MCHB of HRSA, and NIDA.

A synthesis of early antecedents of eating behavior and weight status in girls: The legacy of girls’ NEEDS project

Dr. Leann Birch, an innovator in the field of children's eating behavior, was the first scientist to synergize the fields of developmental psychology and nutrition science. One of Leann's groundbreaking projects was the Girls' NEEDS Project (GNP), an NIH-funded observational study of the longitudinal development of eating and weight-related behaviors of girls across middle childhood and adolescence. At the time of GNP, obesity prevalence during childhood had roughly doubled during the previous two decades, research interest in dieting had increased as societal expectations of the ‘thin ideal’ got even thinner, and little was known about how environmental factors such as parenting influenced the development of maladaptive eating and weight-related behaviors. GNP resulted in over 70 publications, covering a range of topics from girls' dietary intake and physical activity to parental influences on girls' eating behavior, thus laying the groundwork for many topics in the obesity, food parenting, and dieting literature today. Therefore, this narrative review aims to summarize and synthesize the literature that resulted from the GNP and provide implications for future work building from this foundation.

Limitations of the new ISO standard for health and wellness apps

Limitations of the new ISO standard for health and wellness apps

The relationship between reward context and inhibitory control, does it depend on BMI, maladaptive eating, and negative affect?

BackgroundRecent studies suggest that higher Body Mass Index (BMI) is associated with reduced inhibitory control in contexts of palatable food. However, due to limitations of previous studies, it remained the question whether this reduction is specific to food contexts, and whether it generalizes to other contexts of reward, such as money. This main question was addressed in the current study. In addition, we explored the effect of maladaptive eating and stress regarding inhibitory control across the contexts that differed in terms of reward.MethodsIn total, 46 participants between 19 and 50 years old (39% males and 61% females) with an average BMI of 23.5 (SD = 3.9) participated. Participants filled out questionnaires and performed a go/no-go task (indexing inhibitory control) with three conditions (neutral, food, and money condition).ResultsRelatively high (above median) BMI was associated with challenged inhibitory control in the food relative to the neutral context, but not in the money relative to neutral context. Explorative analyses suggested that maladaptive eating and stress were associated with reduced inhibitory control in the food context. Only rumination was associated with reduced inhibitory control in the money context.ConclusionsThe effects of BMI, maladaptive eating behavior, and stress on inhibitory control were specific to the food context, and did not generalize to a non-intrinsic reward condition, operationalized with money pictures. Our results imply that (research on) interventions directed at improving inhibitory control in relation to overweight and obesity, should consider food-reward context.