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Hedonic Overeating-Questionnaire: Exploring interactive effects between wanting, liking, and dyscontrol on body mass
Adrian Meule1, Swen Hesse2, Elmar Brähler3
1Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of the LMU Munich, Munich, Germany; Schoen Clinic Roseneck, Prien am Chiemsee, Germany.
Appetite
|May 6, 2023
Summary
This study found that food wanting and loss of control over eating interact to predict higher body mass index (BMI). These findings support dual systems models of self-regulation in understanding overeating and obesity.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Public Health
Background:
- The Hedonic Overeating-Questionnaire assesses liking, wanting, and dyscontrol related to eating.
- Previous research linked higher scores on these subscales to higher body mass index (BMI).
- Theories suggest overeating and obesity may stem from interactions between liking, wanting, and dyscontrol.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate interactive predictions of body mass index (BMI) by liking, wanting, and dyscontrol scores.
- To test whether interactions between food reward components predict obesity.
- To evaluate support for dual systems models of self-regulation in overeating.
Main Methods:
- Reanalysis of a cross-sectional study data (N=2504, 53% female).
- Exploration of interactive effects of liking, wanting, and dyscontrol on BMI.
- Statistical analysis of two-way and three-way interaction effects.
Main Results:
- A significant interaction was found between wanting and dyscontrol predicting BMI.
- Higher dyscontrol scores were associated with higher BMI, especially when wanting scores were high.
- No significant interactions were found between liking and wanting, or other three-way interactions.
Conclusions:
- Findings support dual systems models of self-regulation, where strong impulses (wanting) and weak control (dyscontrol) contribute to overeating and obesity.
- Results do not support theories suggesting an interaction between liking and wanting in predicting BMI.
- The interplay between food craving and loss of control is crucial for understanding obesity.