Departmental Papers (ASC)
Title
Impulsivity and Inhibitory Control Deficits Are Associated With Unhealthy Eating in Young Adults
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of this Version
12-2012
Publication Source
Appetite
Volume
59
Issue
3
Start Page
738
Last Page
747
DOI
10.1016/j.appet.2012.08.001
Abstract
Heightened impulsivity and inefficient inhibitory control are increasingly recognized as risk factors for unhealthy eating and obesity but the underlying processes are not fully understood. We used structural equation modeling to investigate the relationships between impulsivity, inhibitory control, eating behavior, and body mass index (BMI) in 210 undergraduates who ranged from underweight to obese. We demonstrate that impulsivity and inhibitory control deficits are positively associated with several facets of unhealthy eating, including overeating in response to external food cues and in response to negative emotional states, and making food choices based on taste preferences without consideration of health value. We further show that such unhealthy eating is, for the most part, associated with increased BMI, with the exception of Restraint Eating, which is negatively associated with BMI. These results add to our understanding of the impact of individual differences in impulsivity and inhibitory control on key aspects of unhealthy eating and may have implications for the treatment and prevention of obesity.
Copyright/Permission Statement
© 2012. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 license
Keywords
cognitive control, executive function, response inhibition, decision making, eating, obesity, structural equation modeling
Recommended Citation
Jasinska, A. J., Yasuda, M., Burant, C. F., Gregor, N., Khatri, S., Sweet, M., & Falk, E. B. (2012). Impulsivity and Inhibitory Control Deficits Are Associated With Unhealthy Eating in Young Adults. Appetite, 59 (3), 738-747. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2012.08.001
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Date Posted: 23 May 2016
This document has been peer reviewed.