Early associations with palatable foods in overweight and obesity are not disinhibition related but restraint related

J Behav Ther Exp Psychiatry. 2009 Mar;40(1):136-46. doi: 10.1016/j.jbtep.2008.07.003. Epub 2008 Jul 25.

Abstract

Obese people prefer and overconsume high-fat foods. At the same time they often attempt to lose weight. In two studies we investigated relations between palatable high-fat food words and disinhibition related concepts (study 1) and palatable high-fat food words and restraint related concepts (study 2) within the semantic priming paradigm. In study 1, 24 overweight/obese and 19 healthy weight women participated. There was no association between palatable high-fat food words and disinhibition. In study 2, 27 obese and 29 healthy weight women participated. The presentation of palatable high-fat food words facilitated the accessibility of restraint related concepts as hypothesized, but independent of weight status. Clearly, early associations with palatable high-fat food words are restraint related in both healthy weight and obese people.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Body Mass Index
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Decision Making
  • Dietary Fats
  • Female
  • Food Preferences / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Inhibition, Psychological*
  • Middle Aged
  • Obesity / psychology*
  • Overweight / psychology*
  • Reaction Time
  • Word Association Tests
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Dietary Fats