Obesity, Weight, Body
Conditions
Keywords
Distraction, Eating behavior, Fullness, Hunger, Ingestive behavior, Rapid visual information processing
Brief summary
This study determined effects of a cognitive distraction on amount, preference, and memory of food consumed and perceptions of fullness, hunger, and enjoyment of food in a healthy young-adult population. A randomized controlled crossover study of 119 healthy adults, assigned to begin in either the distracted or control condition, was conducted.
Detailed description
Environmental distractions have been shown to affect eating patterns. Influences of food environments on consumption patterns and not simply food choices are becoming increasingly clear for their contributions to energy intake. Of particular interest is the presence of distraction. It has been postulated that when distracted, individuals are inclined to consumer more than when not distracted. However, how distraction and memory impact subsequent food choice and preference is less well known. A Rapid Visual Information Processing (RVIP) task was applied to distract individuals while eating; food intake and food behaviors were measured after RVIP distraction and compared to food intake and food behaviors without distraction in the same individuals.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALRapid Visual Information Processing task
A series of numbers appeared on a computer screen at a rate of one per minute. Each participant was required to identify any series of three consecutive odd or even numbers by hitting the space bar on the keyboard. The task lasted 15 minutes and included a 1-minute practice session before food being served. Participants were instructed to eat at will while completing the computer task.
BEHAVIORALNone or Control condition
Participant were instructed to eat at will during a 15-minute duration.
Sponsors
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
Randomized controlled crossover study where participants were assigned to begin in the distracted or control condition. One week later, participants completed the opposite condition.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 25 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* able to read and speak English and willing to consume foods provided during the study
Exclusion criteria
* adhering to any dietary restrictions or diets, having any food allergies, and/or having any chronic or metabolic diseases
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Food intake | Up to 14 days | Consumption of food by number of food items eaten |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Snack intake | Up to 14 days | Consumption of snack choices by number of food items eaten |
| Memory of food intake | Up to 14 days | Recording of food that was eaten during the condition period by number of food items eaten |
| Fullness | Up to 14 days | How full do you feel right now? by 100mm visual analog scale; 0=not at all to 100=very much |
| Hunger | Up to 14 days | How hungry do you feel right now? by 100mm visual analog scale; 0=not at all to 100=very much |
| Enjoyment | Up to 14 days | How much did you enjoy the meal provided? by 100mm visual analog scale; 0=not at all to 100=very much |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed