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Self-regulation and obesity: the role of executive function and delay discounting in the prediction of weight loss

Authors: Fania C. M. Dassen, Katrijn Houben, Vanessa Allom, Anita Jansen

Published in: Journal of Behavioral Medicine | Issue 6/2018

Abstract

Obesity rates are rising worldwide. Executive function and delay discounting have been hypothesized to play important roles in the self-regulation of behavior, and may explain variance in weight loss treatment success. First, we compared individuals with obesity (n = 82) to healthy weight controls (n = 71) on behavioral and self-report measures of executive function (working memory, inhibition and shifting) and delay discounting. Secondly, the individuals with obesity took part in a multidisciplinary weight loss program and we examined whether executive function and delay discounting predicted weight change. Individuals with obesity displayed weaker general and food-specific inhibition, and weaker self-reported executive function. Better behavioral working memory and better self-reported inhibition skills in daily life were predictive of greater weight loss. As findings are correlational, future studies should investigate the causal relationship between executive function and weight loss, and test whether intervening on executive function will lead to better prevention and treatment of obesity.

Two data points (individuals with obesity) and one additional value (healthy weight controls) were excluded from the general Stop-Signal Task because the percentage of correct stop trials was zero, indicating that these participants never inhibited their response. Two additional data points (individuals with obesity) were excluded from the food-specific Stop-Signal Task because the percentage of correct stop trials was zero.

One participant was excluded from all behavioral tasks because of a physical disability affecting reaction times (individuals with obesity); one participant was excluded from the Trail Making Test because of wrong execution of instructions (individuals with obesity); data is missing for one participants for both the general and food-specific Stop-Signal Task because of technical problems in data storage (individuals with obesity); data is missing for one participant on the 2-back task because the participant did not correctly understand the instructions (individuals with obesity).

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Title: Self-regulation and obesity: the role of executive function and delay discounting in the prediction of weight loss
Authors: Fania C. M. Dassen
Katrijn Houben
Vanessa Allom
Anita Jansen
Publication date: 01-12-2018
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Behavioral Medicine / Issue 6/2018
Print ISSN: 0160-7715
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3521
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-018-9940-9

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Self-regulation and obesity: the role of executive function and delay discounting in the prediction of weight loss

Abstract

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Abstract

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