Individual differences in executive function predict distinct eating behaviours

Does inhibitory control training improve health behaviour? A meta-analysis

“…It is possible that the effectiveness of inhibitory control training differs according to the characteristics of the target health behaviour. For example, research has demonstrated a stronger relationship between inhibitory control and health risk behaviours such as snack consumption, compared to health enhancing behaviours such as fruit and vegetable consumption (Allom & Mullan, 2014;Hall, 2012). Further, McEachan, Lawton, and Conner (2010) offered a framework for classifying and predicting health behaviours based on the unique characteristics of the behaviour, suggesting that not all health behaviours have the same determinants.…”

Body weight and food intake in Parkinson's disease. A review of the association to non-motor symptoms

“…Memory loss and the inability to initiate or continue effective eating strategies have been associated with the presence of food intake problems in patients with dementia (Aziz et al, 2008;Suto et al, 2014). Moreover, different cognitive functions, specifically frontal lobe based executive functions such as cognitive control, inhibition of inappropriate behavioural responses, ability to flexibly switch among strategies and so on, are implicated in the regulation of eating (Allom & Mullan, 2014). For example, deficits in inhibitory control are associated with altered eating behaviour and weight outcomes.…”

The influence of hot and cool executive function on the development of eating styles related to overweight in children

“…There is evidence that lower self-rated global EF is associated with disinhibited eating, food cravings (Spinella & Lyke, 2004), and unhealthy snack intake (Adriaanse, Kroese, Gillebaart, & De Ridder, 2014;Riggs, Chou, Spruijt-Metz, & Pentz, 2010;Riggs, Spruijt-Metz, Chou, & Pentz, 2012), as well as with a lower consumption of fruit and vegetables four months later (Riggs et al, 2010). Furthermore, two studies reported associations between lower scores on a cool WM updating measure and a lower intake of fruit and vegetables (Allom & Mullan, 2014), as well as a tendency for participants who scored lower on a hot affective decision-making task to overeat when feeling depressed (Davis et al, 2004).…”

“…In adults, associations between reduced inhibitory control and different aspects of eating have been demonstrated, such as less healthy food choices (e.g., Jasinska et al, 2012), eating in response to negative emotional states or external food cues (e.g., Elfhag & Morey, 2008), binge eating (see Fischer, Smith, & Cyders, 2008;Waxman, 2009, for reviews), and saturated fat intake (e.g. Allom & Mullan, 2014). In addition to these correlational findings, a few experimental studies suggest a causal role of inhibitory control in eating behavior, in that increasing impulsivity leads to a higher food intake, and increasing inhibition to a lower food intake (Guerrieri, Nederkoorn, Schrooten, Martijn, & Jansen, 2009;Houben, 2011).…”