Pre-pandemic food inhibitory control and overeating during COVID-19: A longitudinal fMRI study

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted physical and mental health, with overeating becoming a prevalent issue, characterized by excessive food consumption and a tendency to continue eating despite feeling full. This study examined the relationship between pre-pandemic food-related inhibitory control and overeating during the pandemic. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and a behavioral food go/no-go task were conducted prior to the pandemic in 745 college students. Inhibitory control data were collected before the pandemic, and overeating was measured during its peak. Correlation analysis revealed a positive link between food inhibitory control and brain regions related to cognitive control, including the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) and Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC), and a negative link to reward-related regions (e.g., postcentral gyrus, precuneus, lingual cortex). Additionally, functional connectivity between the precuneus and lingual cortex negatively correlated with inhibitory control. Longitudinal mediation models showed that the effect of inhibitory control on overeating was mediated by the VLPFC and ACC. This study is the first to explore the relationship between food inhibitory control and overeating during the pandemic, offering insights into the role of inhibitory control in eating behaviors and its potential implications for promoting healthier eating.