Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 5, 2026

Three Laboratory Procedures for Assessing Different Manifestations of Impulsivity in Rats
09:12

Three Laboratory Procedures for Assessing Different Manifestations of Impulsivity in Rats

Published on: March 17, 2019

9.9K

Interactive effects of impulsivity and dietary restraint over snack intake in children

Carmel Bennett1, Jackie Blissett2

  • 1Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, UK.

Appetite
|October 24, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Children high in motor impulsivity and dietary restraint may overeat. This combination, not impulsivity or restraint alone, influences snack intake in children aged 7-11, especially in environments with abundant food options.

Area of Science:

  • Child Psychology
  • Behavioral Neuroscience
  • Nutritional Science

Background:

  • Impulsivity and dietary restraint influence adult food intake.
  • Limited research exists on these interactions in children.
  • Understanding these factors is crucial for addressing childhood obesity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the interactive effects of behavioral impulsivity and dietary restraint on food intake in children.
  • To examine specific facets of impulsivity, including motor impulsivity, reward sensitivity, delay of gratification, and inhibitory control.
  • To assess how these factors influence snack consumption in a controlled laboratory setting.

Main Methods:

  • A laboratory-based study involving 50 children aged 7-11 years.
  • Assessment of impulsivity through various behavioral tasks.
  • Self-reported dietary restraint measures.
  • Controlled snack food availability and intake recording.
  • Assessment of hunger levels upon arrival.

Main Results:

  • Motor impulsivity and dietary restraint significantly interacted to affect snack intake.
  • Children high in both motor impulsivity and restraint consumed more snacks.
  • High dietary restraint buffered intake in children low in motor impulsivity.
  • Reward sensitivity, delay of gratification, and inhibitory control did not show interactive effects with dietary restraint.

Conclusions:

  • Impulsivity and dietary restraint in isolation do not predict children's dietary intake.
  • The combination of high motor impulsivity and high dietary restraint may lead to overeating in children.
  • These findings highlight the importance of considering the interplay of behavioral traits in understanding children's eating behaviors, particularly in obesogenic environments.

Keywords:
Dietary restraintEating behaviourImpulsivityInhibitory control

More Related Videos

Errors as a Means of Reducing Impulsive Food Choice07:07

Errors as a Means of Reducing Impulsive Food Choice

Published on: June 5, 2016

9.1K
Author Spotlight: Accessible M&M-Based Mouse Model for Investigating Binge Eating Disorder - Insights into Eating Behaviors, Anxiety, and Neural Mechanisms05:15

Author Spotlight: Accessible M&M-Based Mouse Model for Investigating Binge Eating Disorder - Insights into Eating Behaviors, Anxiety, and Neural Mechanisms

Published on: January 10, 2025

1.6K

Related Concept Videos

Self-Regulation01:25

Self-Regulation

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...
191
Regulation of Food Intake01:30

Regulation of Food Intake

Short-term regulation of food intake primarily involves neural signals from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, blood nutrient levels, and GI tract hormones. Communication between the gut and brain via vagal nerve fibers plays a significant role in evaluating the contents of the gut. Clinical studies have shown that protein ingestion produces a more prolonged response in these nerve fibers compared to an equivalent amount of glucose. Additionally, the activation of stretch receptors caused by GI...
2.2K
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder01:30

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It affects approximately 5-8% of children globally, with around 60-70% of cases persisting into adulthood. ADHD has significant implications for educational attainment, social interactions, and occupational success.
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
696
Binge Eating Disorders01:23

Binge Eating Disorders

Binge eating disorder is a significant mental health condition characterized by recurrent episodes of excessive food consumption within a short period, accompanied by a perceived loss of control over eating behavior. Unlike occasional overeating, binge eating disorder is marked by distressing emotions such as guilt, shame, and anxiety following binge episodes. The disorder affects individuals across different ages and backgrounds, with profound implications for physical and psychological...
394
Timing and Consequences on Behavior01:08

Timing and Consequences on Behavior

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...
321
Self-Schemas02:16

Self-Schemas

In general, a schema is a mental construct consisting of a cluster or collection of related concepts (Bartlett, 1932). There are many different types of schemata, and they all have one thing in common: schemata are a method of organizing information that allows the brain to work more efficiently. When a schema is activated, the brain makes immediate assumptions about the person or object being observed.
35.3K