Johannes Hofmann1,2,3,4, Elisabeth Ardelt-Gattinger1,4, Katharina Paulmichl2,4, Daniel Weghuber2,3,4, Jens Blechert1,4. 1. Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Salzburg, Austria. 2. Department of Pediatrics, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria. 3. Obesity Research Unit, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria. 4. Obesity Academy Austria, Salzburg, Austria.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Despite alarming prevalence rates, surprisingly little is known about neural mechanisms underlying eating behavior in juveniles with obesity. To simulate reactivity to modern food environments, event-related potentials (ERP) to appetizing food images (relative to control images) were recorded in adolescents with obesity and healthy adolescents. METHODS: Thirty-four adolescents with obesity (patients) and 24 matched healthy control adolescents watched and rated standardized food and object images during ERP recording. Personality (impulsivity) and eating styles (trait craving and dietary restraint) were assessed as potential moderators. RESULTS: Food relative to object images triggered larger early (P100) and late (P300) ERPs. More impulsive individuals had considerably larger food-specific P100 amplitudes in both groups. Controls with higher restraint scores showed reduced food-specific P300 amplitudes and subjective palatability ratings whereas patients with higher restraint scores showed increased P300 and palatability ratings. CONCLUSIONS: This first ERP study in adolescents with obesity and controls revealed impulsivity as a general risk factor in the current obesogenic environment by increasing food-cue salience. Dietary restraint showed paradoxical effects in patients, making them more vulnerable to visual food-cues. Salutogenic therapeutic approaches that deemphasize strict dietary restraint and foster healthy food choice might reduce such paradoxical effects.
OBJECTIVE: Despite alarming prevalence rates, surprisingly little is known about neural mechanisms underlying eating behavior in juveniles with obesity. To simulate reactivity to modern food environments, event-related potentials (ERP) to appetizing food images (relative to control images) were recorded in adolescents with obesity and healthy adolescents. METHODS: Thirty-four adolescents with obesity (patients) and 24 matched healthy control adolescents watched and rated standardized food and object images during ERP recording. Personality (impulsivity) and eating styles (trait craving and dietary restraint) were assessed as potential moderators. RESULTS: Food relative to object images triggered larger early (P100) and late (P300) ERPs. More impulsive individuals had considerably larger food-specific P100 amplitudes in both groups. Controls with higher restraint scores showed reduced food-specific P300 amplitudes and subjective palatability ratings whereas patients with higher restraint scores showed increased P300 and palatability ratings. CONCLUSIONS: This first ERP study in adolescents with obesity and controls revealed impulsivity as a general risk factor in the current obesogenic environment by increasing food-cue salience. Dietary restraint showed paradoxical effects in patients, making them more vulnerable to visual food-cues. Salutogenic therapeutic approaches that deemphasize strict dietary restraint and foster healthy food choice might reduce such paradoxical effects.
Authors: Johannes Hofmann; Adrian Meule; Julia Reichenberger; Daniel Weghuber; Elisabeth Ardelt-Gattinger; Jens Blechert Journal: Front Psychol Date: 2016-09-21
Authors: Brian E Saelens; Susan J Melhorn; Maya G Rowland; Kelley Scholz; Mary Rosalynn B De Leon; Clinton T Elfers; Ellen A Schur; Christian L Roth Journal: Child Obes Date: 2021-08-05 Impact factor: 2.867