Don't mind if I do: disinhibited eating under cognitive load

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Behavioral Science
• Cognitive Psychology

Background:

• Emotional and motivational states are known to trigger overeating in restrained eaters.
• Restrained eating is a behavioral pattern characterized by conscious control over food intake.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether cognitive load can disinhibit eating in restrained eaters.
• To examine the mechanisms underlying cognitive load-induced overeating.

Main Methods:

• Two studies were conducted involving restrained and unrestrained eaters.
• Participants completed tasks with varying cognitive loads while having access to high-calorie food.
• Mediating factors such as stress and awareness were assessed in the second study.

Main Results:

• Restrained eaters consumed significantly more food under high cognitive load compared to low cognitive load.
• Unrestrained eaters exhibited an inverse pattern, consuming less food under high cognitive load.
• Cognitive load was identified as a disinhibitor of eating, independent of stress or reduced awareness.

Conclusions:

• Cognitive load can disrupt self-regulation, leading to overeating in restrained eaters.
• The findings suggest that cognitive load impairs the monitoring of dietary consequences.
• Implications for self-regulation theories and understanding eating behavior are discussed.