Acting to self-regulate unhealthy eating habits. An investigation into the effects of habit, hedonic hunger and self-regulation on sugar consumption from confectionery foods

Association between nutrition self-efficacy, health locus of control and food choice motives in consumers in nine European countries

We investigated associations between food choice motives and psychological determinants of dietary health behaviour change (nutrition self-efficacy, NS-E, and health locus of control, HLoC) among 9381 participants (18-65 years, 49.4% females) from nine European countries. Price was the highest rated food choice motive. Higher importance of all motives was associated with higher NS-E and with higher Internal HLoC. Relationships between food choice motives and External HLoC were also in the expected direction in showing negative associations with Health, Natural Content, Weight Control, Mood and Sensory Appeal. Higher External HLoC was also associated with perceived greater importance of 'external' motives Ethical Concern, Familiarity and Convenience. Relationships between External HLoC and food choice motives were not all in the expected direction. Price was unrelated to External HLoC. Females rated the importance of all motives higher than males. People with less education ascribed greater importance to Price in motivating food choices. Together, these findings imply that self-efficacy and health locus of control should be considered along with motivations for food choice in dietary health promotion.

Lived Experience and Perceptions of Adolescents on Prevention, Causes and Consequences of Double Burden of Malnutrition in Debre Berhan City, Ethiopia: A Qualitative Study

Background

The coexistence of undernutrition, overweight, and obesity within the same households and populations is recognized as the Double Burden of Malnutrition (DBM). A paradigm shift thinking is needed to mitigate its impact. School adolescents are the most vulnerable groups to DBM. However, lived experiences and perceptions on prevention, causes, and consequences of DBM were not well studied. Therefore, this study aims to explore the lived experiences and perceptions of adolescents about the prevention, causes, and consequences of DBM in Ethiopia.

Methods

A qualitative research method using phenomenology design was conducted among 20 purposively selected participants from private and government schools from June 3 to July 10, 2022. The further sampling process was guided by a saturation of ideas. In-depth and key informant interviews were conducted to collect the data. The most recent version of Open code 4.03 was utilized to generate meaningful codes, subthemes, and themes. The results were displayed using thematic analysis and respondents' well-spoken verbatims.

Results

The study explored the perceptions of adolescents on the causes, prevention, and consequences of DBM. The main causes of DBM identified were poor dietary and drinking habits, poor knowledge and attitude about nutrition, low financial income, unemployment, food insecurity, poor feeding culture, physical inactivity, poor food management, educational and school-related issues, national-related issues, frequent use of ultra-processed foods, and frequent out of home eating. The majority of students were not aware of how DBM will affect their health and academic performance over the long run.

Conclusion

The findings showed that despite school adolescents' variations in knowledge, lived experience, attitude, and perceptions, most of them have a poor understanding of the causes, consequences, and prevention mechanisms of the double burden of malnutrition. The results suggest the need for instituting double-duty interventions that have a double impact on the prevention of DBM.

Onset of Weight Gain and Health Concerns for Men: Findings from the TAP Programme

With shown reticence by men to engage with dietary interventions for weight loss, investigations that provide detail on men’s perceptions for the causes of weight gain and subsequent concerns over health and image are important. Such discoveries have potential to make a valuable contribution to male gendered programme design aimed at tackling weight gain and promoting good health. Connecting to men to health using their hobbies and interests, this study deployed semi-structured interviews of eight male participants (age > 35 years) enrolled on The Alpha Programme (TAP). TAP is a 12-week football and weight management intervention delivered in local community venues. Results captured men’s lived experiences and feelings of being overweight, their attempts at dietary modification, health and causes of weight gain. Results signify externalized attribution for weight gain, entrenched habitual intake practices, despondency related to weight stigmatization, self-objectification and low self-worth. Moreover, this study outlines the processes for capturing this information using a male friendly approach and setting. Outcomes have potential for shaping bespoke men’s weight management and health improvement interventions in the future.

A Structural Equation Model of Self-Regulation and Healthy Habits as an Individual Protective Tool in the Context of Epidemics-Evidence From COVID-19

Objective: The present study aims to explore the mediation role of self-regulation on health-related behaviors adoption or maintenance, mental health, and well-being during the COVID-19 confinement in a sample of adults in Portugal. Design: One-hundred fifty individuals (118 females, 32 males; Mage = 33.57 year; SD = 12.71) filled an online survey to assess self-regulation, healthy behaviors, mental health, and well-being perception, during the early months of the pandemic (June-August, 2020). Main Outcome Measures: Self-regulation capacity, adoption or maintenance of healthy habits, mental health, including stress management, and the perception of one's well-being were evaluated using a structural equation model (SEM). Results: Self-regulation had direct effects on healthy habits and mental health and indirect effects on well-being and mental health mediated by healthy habits. In specific, a positive direct effect on healthy habits (β = 0.497, p < 0.001) and a negative direct effect on mental health (β = -0.428, p < 0.001); and a positive indirect effect on well-being perception, mediated by healthy behaviors and mental health (β = 0.253, p = 0.003), and a negative indirect effect on mental health, mediated by healthy habits (β = -0.208, p = 0.003). Additionally, healthy habits exerted direct effects on well-being perception and mental health. A positive direct effect on well-being perception (β = 0.254, p = 0.012), and a negative direct effect on mental health (β = -0.418, p < 0.001) were further observed. No direct effect of mental health was observed in well-being perception (β = -0.199, p = 0.068). Finally, a negative correlation was observed between self-regulation and weeks of confinement (r = -0.208, p = 0.021). Conclusion: Self-regulation seems to be a good indicator of adopting a healthy lifestyle and better mental health and well-being in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Future preventive actions and interventions to build long-term global preparedness for future health emergencies, such as COVID-19, should explore the importance of self-regulation as an important individual and collective protective factor.

A Habit-Based Randomised Controlled Trial to Reduce Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption: the Impact of the Substituted Beverage on Behaviour and Habit Strength

BACKGROUND

Excess sugar consumption has been linked to numerous negative health outcomes, such as obesity and type II diabetes. Reducing sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption may reduce sugar intake and thus improve health. The aim of the study was to test the impact of the potentially different rewarding nature of water or diet drinks as replacements for SSB, using a habit and implementation intention-based intervention.

METHOD

An online randomised, two-arm parallel design was used. One hundred and fifty-eight participants (mainly from the UK and USA) who regularly consumed SSBs (M_age = 31.5, 51% female) were advised to create implementation intentions to substitute their SSB with either water or a diet drink. Measures of SSB consumption, habit strength and hedonic liking were taken at baseline and at 2 months. Water or diet drink consumption was only measured at 2 months.

RESULTS

There was a large and significant reduction in SSB consumption and self-reported SSB habits for both the water and diet drink groups, but no difference between groups. There were no differences in hedonic liking for the alternative drink, alternative drink consumption and alternative drink habit between the two groups. Reduction in SSB hedonic liking was associated with reduced SSB consumption and habit.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that an implementation intention-based intervention achieved substantial reductions in SSB consumption and habits. It also indicates that hedonic liking for SSBs and alternative drinks are associated with changes in consumption behaviour. Substituting SSBs with water or diet drinks was equally as effective in reducing SSB consumption.

Relationship between Hedonic Hunger and Health Interest on Habit and Sodium Intake Patterns in Food Consumption

Many people are motivated to eat healthily but find it difficult to override established and less healthy habits. Habits, by their nature, are unconscious and cued by the environment, thus making them powerful determinants of behavior. This study examined how hedonic hunger and health interest are related to habit and whether sodium consumption is mediated by hedonic hunger, health interest, and habit. A total of 117 students of Universitas Brawijaya took part in the study. Data analysis were done using Partial Least Square (PLS) and a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (SQ-FFQ). PLS was used to analyze the influence of the relationship between independent and dependent variables. SQ-FFQ was used to determine sodium intake in grams/day. The average sodium intake in this study was 2.47 grams/day. This analysis shows that hedonic hunger and health interest had a significant impact on health habits but not on sodium intake.

Promoting water intake. The persuasiveness of a messaging intervention based on anticipated negative affective reactions and self-monitoring

The present research focused on water intake (WI) in young adults. Study 1 (N = 272) was a correlational study and showed affective attitude, perceived behavioural control, past behaviour and anticipated negative affective reactions (ANAR) to predict WI intentions. It also showed intentions, instrumental attitude, perceived behavioural control, and past behaviour to predict WI prospectively. In addition, ANAR moderates the relationship between intention and future water intake (WI). Study 2 (N = 197) was an experimental study and showed that daily text messages targeting ANAR plus a self-monitoring manipulation increased WI immediately after the intervention although this effect did not persist one month later. Mediation analysis indicated the intervention impacted WI via sequentially changing ANAR and intention.

A narrative review of the construct of hedonic hunger and its measurement by the Power of Food Scale

INTRODUCTION

The term 'hedonic hunger' refers to one's preoccupation with and desire to consume foods for the purposes of pleasure and in the absence of physical hunger. The Power of Food Scale (PFS) was developed as a quantitative measure of this construct in 2009. Since then, over 50 published studies have used the PFS to predict appetite-related outcomes including neural, cognitive, behavioural, anthropometric and clinical measures.

OBJECTIVE

This narrative review evaluates how closely the PFS captures the construct it was originally presumed to assess and to more clearly define hedonic hunger itself.

METHODS

The measure's relationship to four domains is reviewed and summarized: motivation to consume palatable foods; level of actual consumption of such foods; body mass; and subjective loss-of-control over one's eating behaviour. Findings are synthesized to generate a more accurate understanding of what the PFS measures and how it may relate to the broader definition of hedonic hunger.

RESULTS

Results suggest that the PFS is closely related to motivation to consume palatable foods and, in extreme cases, occurrence of loss-of-control eating episodes. PFS scores are not consistently predictive of amount of food consumed or body mass.

CONCLUSIONS

Implications of these findings are discussed in the context of behavioural health, and avenues for further inquiry are identified.

Reducing consumption of confectionery foods: A post-hoc segmentation analysis using a social cognition approach

Considering confectionary consumption behaviour this cross-sectional study used social cognition variables to identify distinct segments in terms of their motivation and efforts to decrease their consumption of such foods with the aim of informing targeted social marketing campaigns. Using Latent Class analysis on a sample of 500 adults four segments were identified: unmotivated, triers, successful actors, and thrivers. The unmotivated and triers segments reported low levels of perceived need and perceived behavioural control (PBC) in addition to high levels of habit and hedonic hunger with regards their consumption of confectionery foods. Being a younger adult was associated with higher odds of being in the unmotivated and triers segments and being female was associated with higher odds of being in the triers and successful actors segments. The findings indicate that in the absence of strong commitment to eating low amounts of confectionery foods (i.e. perceived need) people will continue to overconsume free sugars regardless of motivation to change. It is therefore necessary to identify relevant messages or 'triggers' related to sugar consumption that resonate with young adults in particular. For those motivated to change, counteracting unhealthy eating habits and the effects of hedonic hunger may necessitate changes to food environments in order to make the healthy choice more appealing and accessible.

Determinants of self-regulation in obesity: formation of implicit food preferences

<b>Background</b><br /> The objective of this study was to investigate whether motor behavior can impact self-regulation of food intake in individuals with obesity. We utilized purposeful movement of the hand as a means to influence tendencies to approach and avoid foods compatible and incompatible with the weight loss goals. <br /> <br /> <b>Participants and procedure</b><br /> One hundred individuals with obesity (BMI ≥ 30) participated in this study. The participants were randomized into 2 experimental groups. The first experimental group was induced to prefer dietary foods and to avoid fattening foods. The second experimental group was induced to prefer fattening food and to avoid dietary food. <br /> <b>Results</b><br /> Experimental group 1 chose dietary products and avoided fattening items more often than group 2. We observed the increased importance of goals to lose weight and improve body shape as a result of manipulation consistent with its direction.<br /> <br /> <b>Conclusions</b><br /> Implicit manipulation of food preferences by approach/avoidance tasks can alter food preferences and attitudes.