BACKGROUND: Cognitive processes such as attention and memory may influence food intake, but the degree to which they do is unclear. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to examine whether such cognitive processes influence the amount of food eaten either immediately or in subsequent meals. DESIGN: We systematically reviewed studies that examined experimentally the effect that manipulating memory, distraction, awareness, or attention has on food intake. We combined studies by using inverse variance meta-analysis, calculating the standardized mean difference (SMD) in food intake between experimental and control groups and assessing heterogeneity with the I(2) statistic. RESULTS: Twenty-four studies were reviewed. Evidence indicated that eating when distracted produced a moderate increase in immediate intake (SMD: 0.39; 95% CI: 0.25, 0.53) but increased later intake to a greater extent (SMD: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.45, 1.07). The effect of distraction on immediate intake appeared to be independent of dietary restraint. Enhancing memory of food consumed reduced later intake (SMD: 0.40; 95% CI: 0.12, 0.68), but this effect may depend on the degree of the participants' tendencies toward disinhibited eating. Removing visual information about the amount of food eaten during a meal increased immediate intake (SMD: 0.48; 95% CI: 0.27, 0.68). Enhancing awareness of food being eaten may not affect immediate intake (SMD: 0.09; 95% CI: -0.42, 0.35). CONCLUSIONS: Evidence indicates that attentive eating is likely to influence food intake, and incorporation of attentive-eating principles into interventions provides a novel approach to aid weight loss and maintenance without the need for conscious calorie counting.
BACKGROUND: Cognitive processes such as attention and memory may influence food intake, but the degree to which they do is unclear. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to examine whether such cognitive processes influence the amount of food eaten either immediately or in subsequent meals. DESIGN: We systematically reviewed studies that examined experimentally the effect that manipulating memory, distraction, awareness, or attention has on food intake. We combined studies by using inverse variance meta-analysis, calculating the standardized mean difference (SMD) in food intake between experimental and control groups and assessing heterogeneity with the I(2) statistic. RESULTS: Twenty-four studies were reviewed. Evidence indicated that eating when distracted produced a moderate increase in immediate intake (SMD: 0.39; 95% CI: 0.25, 0.53) but increased later intake to a greater extent (SMD: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.45, 1.07). The effect of distraction on immediate intake appeared to be independent of dietary restraint. Enhancing memory of food consumed reduced later intake (SMD: 0.40; 95% CI: 0.12, 0.68), but this effect may depend on the degree of the participants' tendencies toward disinhibited eating. Removing visual information about the amount of food eaten during a meal increased immediate intake (SMD: 0.48; 95% CI: 0.27, 0.68). Enhancing awareness of food being eaten may not affect immediate intake (SMD: 0.09; 95% CI: -0.42, 0.35). CONCLUSIONS: Evidence indicates that attentive eating is likely to influence food intake, and incorporation of attentive-eating principles into interventions provides a novel approach to aid weight loss and maintenance without the need for conscious calorie counting.
Authors: R W Jeffery; A Drewnowski; L H Epstein; A J Stunkard; G T Wilson; R R Wing; D R Hill Journal: Health Psychol Date: 2000-01 Impact factor: 4.267
Authors: Rose E Oldham-Cooper; Charlotte A Hardman; Charlotte E Nicoll; Peter J Rogers; Jeffrey M Brunstrom Journal: Am J Clin Nutr Date: 2010-12-08 Impact factor: 7.045
Authors: Anna L Ford; Cecilia Bergh; Per Södersten; Matthew A Sabin; Sandra Hollinghurst; Linda P Hunt; Julian P H Shield Journal: BMJ Date: 2009-01-05
Authors: Andrea B Goldschmidt; Ross D Crosby; Li Cao; Carolyn M Pearson; Linsey M Utzinger; Carly R Pacanowski; Tyler B Mason; Laura A Berner; Scott G Engel; Stephen A Wonderlich; Carol B Peterson Journal: Eat Behav Date: 2017-01-17