Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 11, 2025

Control of Eating Behavior Using a Novel Feedback System
Published on: May 8, 2018
Univariate and Multivariate Pattern Analysis Reveals the Effects of Negative Body Image at Fatness on Food-Related
Zihan Xu1, Yuchan Xu1, Junyao Han1
1Faculty of Psychology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China.
Background/Objectives:
Perceptions of obesity critically influence people's eating behaviors and responses to food stimuli. However, few studies have investigated the impact of negative body perception on behavioral and neural responses to food stimuli. This study investigates how elevated body dissatisfaction modulates food-related inhibitory control.
Methods:
Fifty-one participants comprising three cohorts-overweight/obese individuals (OO), normal-weight participants exhibiting high negative body image (HNN), and healthy controls-performed a food-specific inhibitory control task under EEG recording.
Results:
The results showed that the HNN cohort achieved superior no-go accuracy and enhanced inhibitory control compared to controls. An event-related potentials (ERPs) analysis revealed increased conflict detection (P200) for high-calorie foods and reduced conflict resolution (LPP) in the HNN group, similar to the overweight/obese group. A multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) identified earlier neural discrimination in the HNN group, suggesting more efficient inhibitory processing.
Conclusions:
These findings underscore negative body perception as a critical modulator of food-related cognitive control mechanisms.
Related Concept Videos
Bulimia Nervosa
Binge Eating Disorders
Regulation of Food Intake
Anorexia Nervosa
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
Assessment of the Gastrointestinal System II: Health Perception Pattern
Health Perception Patterns
Health perception patterns offer valuable insights into a patient's lifestyle habits and how they may impact their GI health. These patterns include:
Obesity

