Baseline motives for eating palatable food: racial differences and preliminary utility in predicting weight loss

Mindfulness, mental health, and motives for eating tasty foods when not in metabolic need

Habitual consumption of highly palatable foods when not in metabolic need (HPF eating) is linked to obesity. High HPF consumption is also linked to mental health disorder (MHD) symptoms. Mindfulness-based interventions are popular treatments for obesity and MHDs, but little is known about the relationship between trait mindfulness and motive-based HPF eating. Therefore, a total of 927 young adults completed a survey that included the Palatable Eating Motives Scale-7 (which identifies Coping-, Reward enhancement-, Social-, and Conformity-eating), the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, the Perceived Stress Scale, and demographic and body mass index (BMI) questions. An MHD questionnaire allowed a comparison of HPF eating between participants with and without various MHDs. Regressions revealed that Coping-eating was independently associated with lower mindfulness and also greater perceived stress, higher BMI, and female sex. Of these variables, only lower mindfulness was independently associated with Reward-, Social-, and Conformity-eating. Coping- and Reward-eating were more frequent in participants with versus without an anxiety disorder, depression, ADD/ADHD, and PTSD. Coping-eating was also more frequent in participants with body dysmorphic disorder. These findings warrant investigations in participants with clinically validated diagnoses for DSM-specific MHDs. Results from such investigations and the uncovered nature of associations between motive-specific HPF eating and trait mindfulness could provide novel targets to improve mindfulness-based interventions for obesity and MHDs.

Change in craving and frequency of consuming palatable foods for non-homeostatic motives after a gut-cued eating intervention

INTRODUCTION

Little is known regarding consumption of palatable foods (PFs) for non-homeostatic reasons after weight-loss interventions and if baseline or change in frequency of this kind of eating can predict weight-loss outcomes. Little is also known of the relationship between PF eating for non-homeostatic motives and PF craving. Addressing these gaps is important because cravings and habitual consumption of PFs in the absence of homeostatic need contribute to obesity.

METHODS

N = 30 adults with a mean 34.8 BMI completed a seven-response choice version of the PEMS (PEMS-7) before and after Gut-Cued Eating (GCE), an intervention that did not ban PFs but instructed them to eat only when stomach-hungry and stop eating before feeling too full. Photos of PFs were also rated pre- and post-GCE.

RESULTS

Frequency of eating PFs for social, reward enhancement, and coping, but not conformity motives, decreased after GCE. The decreases predicted amount of weight loss independent of initial weight and demographics. PF craving also decreased and, while correlated with decreasing PF intake, it did not predict weight loss.

DISCUSSION

The study is preliminary because GCE was uncontrolled. However, results warrant a controlled investigation. That craving and frequency of consuming PFs for non-homeostatic motives declined with an intervention that did not ban PFs suggests a method that may voluntarily decrease one's intake of PFs. This should facilitate weight-loss and healthy-weight maintenance. Finally, decreased eating for non-homeostatic motives suggests that individuals were no longer using PFs to cope, socialize, and enhance reward, a change with benefits beyond weight loss.

Identification of instruments for evaluation of behavioural and psychological parameters associated with obesity management: A systematic review with narrative synthesis of the findings

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

To identify instruments used to evaluate the predictors of successful weight loss across weight loss trials.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, PsychInfo, Cochrane Reviews and Scopus for weight loss trials reporting instruments published in the last 16 years.

RESULTS

A total of 46 significant behavioral and psychological predictors were identified, of which 32 instruments were finally selected. SF-36 questionnaire and Obesity Related Problem Scale for psychosocial health, TREMORE scale for motivation, Social Support Scale for support, Weight Efficacy Lifestyle Scale for self-efficacy and Body Shape Questionnaire for body image had moderate quality. Barriers to healthy eating questionnaire scale and Dutch Eating Behavior also had moderate quality.

CONCLUSION

Use of uniform instruments with optimum quality can benefit clinical and community-based researchers to generate reliable datasets.