Effectiveness of a smartphone-delivered Approach-Avoidance intervention in dietary behavior - a randomized controlled...

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Science
• Clinical Psychology
• Nutritional Science

Background:

• Approach-Avoidance Interventions (AAIs) show therapeutic potential in alcohol use and are increasingly applied to food consumption.
• AAIs involve avoiding unhealthy stimuli and approaching healthy ones, often using device-based interactions.
• This study investigated AAIs for dietary behavior change.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of a phone-based Approach-Avoidance Intervention (AAI) in reducing intake of specific "decrease-foods" and increasing intake of "increase-foods".
• To evaluate the impact of AAIs on food craving, intake, and approach bias.
• To examine the long-term effects of AAIs at a one-month follow-up.

Main Methods:

• A randomized-controlled trial with 156 participants receiving six phone-based AAIs over two weeks.
• Participants targeted six "decrease-foods" and six "increase-foods" based on individual goals.
• Outcomes included daily food craving and intake, approach bias, measured during training, pre/post-training, and at follow-up. A placebo group served as control.

Main Results:

• Active AAI training significantly reduced craving intensity for "decrease-foods" compared to placebo.
• Reductions in craving strength were most pronounced in restrained eaters and those with low past dietary success.
• No significant intervention effects were observed for "increase-foods", food intake, or approach bias, and effects were not maintained at follow-up.

Conclusions:

• A multisession mobile AAI effectively reduced craving intensity for targeted "decrease-foods" shortly after the intervention.
• Observed reductions in craving intensity bounced back by the four-week follow-up.
• Further research is needed to determine how to achieve sustained long-term reductions in food intake through AAIs.