Response inhibition training as an intervention to modify liking and wanting for foods based on energy density: a proof of concept study

AbstractThe ubiquity of energy-dense, processed foods has been implicated as a salient feature of the modern ‘obesogenic’ environment. Cognitive strategies, such as response inhibition training, have been demonstrated to reduce the hedonic value of such foods in previous studies. However, this effect has generally been inconsistent or heterogenous, depending on the outcome measure, characteristics of t he sample, and the specificity of food stimuli. Characterising the extent of generalised effects may help define the application of this type of intervention in natural settings. A repeated-measures, proof-of-concept study, using mobile app-based response inhibition training (RIT) versus a control a pp-based activity (N = 25), was undertaken to establish the valid application of a food reward measure to assess intervention efficacy. Liking (i.e., affect) and wanting (i.e., motivation) for food stimuli categorised by energy density were taken concurrently pre- and post-training. A statistically significant redu ction in explicit liking, but not implicit wanting, for foods irrespective of their energy density was observed during the RIT app-based training session relative to the control (p = .041,ηp2 = .16). However, effect sizes associated with devaluation of energy-dense relative to low calorie food stimuli, although non-significant, were higher when measured as implicitly wanting (p = .098,ηp2 = .11) than explicit liking (p = .756,ηp2 = .00)....
Source: Journal of Behavioral Medicine - Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research