Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 20, 2026
07:47
Measuring Delay Discounting in Humans Using an Adjusting Amount Task
Published on: January 9, 2016
16.2K
Can't wait to lose weight? Characterizing temporal discounting parameters for weight-loss
Seung-Lark Lim1, Amanda S Bruce2
1Department of Psychology, University of Missouri - Kansas City, 5030 Cherry Street, Kansas City, MO 64110, USA.
Appetite
|December 3, 2014
Summary
This study introduces a new way to measure how people value immediate versus delayed weight loss. It found that valuing immediate weight loss is linked to beliefs about personal control and willpower in obesity.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Economics
- Obesity Research
- Psychology
Background:
- Obesity is linked to steeper temporal discounting, favoring immediate rewards over delayed ones.
- Previous studies used monetary rewards, not directly relevant to weight management.
Purpose of the Study:
- Develop and validate a temporal discounting measure using weight-loss rewards.
- Investigate decision-making mechanisms in body weight regulation.
Main Methods:
- Healthy young adults completed monetary and weight-loss reward questionnaires.
- Measurements included height, weight, and obesity-related cognitive variables.
Main Results:
- Weight-loss rewards were discounted over time, correlating with monetary reward discounting.
- Higher temporal discounting for weight loss linked to beliefs about control and willpower in obesity.
Conclusions:
- The developed weight-loss temporal discounting measure shows validity for obesity research.
- This tool can aid in understanding and intervening in obesity-related decision-making.
Related Concept Videos
01:08Timing and Consequences on Behavior
802
In operant conditioning, the timing of reinforcement is crucial. For animals like rats and cats, immediate reinforcement (within a few seconds) is much more effective than delayed reinforcement. For example, a food reward for a rat needs to follow within 30 seconds of pressing a bar to be effective.
Humans, however, can respond to delayed reinforcers. We often make decisions between immediate small rewards and delayed larger rewards. This ability to delay gratification is a significant...
Humans, however, can respond to delayed reinforcers. We often make decisions between immediate small rewards and delayed larger rewards. This ability to delay gratification is a significant...
802
01:52Regression Toward the Mean
7.3K
Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when...
7.3K
01:25Self-Regulation
345
Self-regulation, also known as self-control, encompasses a range of cognitive and behavioral processes that allow individuals to adjust their internal states and outward actions to align with socially acceptable norms and long-term goals. It plays a fundamental role in adaptive functioning, from resisting impulsive behaviors to persisting through challenging tasks. While its benefits are widely recognized, self-regulation is not limitless. Muraven and Baumeister's theory posits that...
345
01:26Derivatives: Problem Solving
219
Temperature-Dependent Growth of Brook TroutThe growth of brook trout is closely influenced by water temperature. Experimental data demonstrate how trout weight changes over a 24-day period in response to varying water temperatures. At lower temperatures, such as 15.5 degrees Celsius, brook trout show significant weight gain. However, as the temperature increases, the amount of weight gained steadily decreases. At the highest temperature measured, 24.4 degrees Celsius, trout experience a net...
219
01:21Drug Dosing: Obese Patients
351
In the United States, obesity is a prominent concern. It is linked to heightened mortality rates due to increased occurrences of conditions such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and diabetes compared to nonobese individuals. A patient is classified as obese if their actual body weight surpasses the ideal or desirable body weight by 20%, based on Metropolitan Life Insurance Company data. Ideal body weights consider average weights and heights for males and females...
351