Appetizing food cues most consistently relate to men's same-day loss of control eating

Experiencing loss of control (LOC) while eating is distressing to men and associated with many negative outcomes. Yet, investigations of LOC eating have focused on women. Some data suggest the factors that contribute to the onset and maintenance of these behaviors differ for men. The current study explored whether specific stressors, body dissatisfaction, dieting, hunger, food cravings, and food exposure were associated with same- and next-day LOC eating in young men. Participants included 41 men (18-35y; Mage = 25.4 ± 5.4) who reported engaging in 4 ≥ LOC eating episodes in the prior month. They completed a 14-day ecological momentary assessment protocol. The following predicted higher odds of same-day LOC eating: seeing/smelling appetizing foods; seeing other people eat/prepare appetizing foods; hearing other people talk about appetizing foods; ease of access to appetizing food; and problems with family members and money (odds ratios ≥1.43, ps ≤ 0.0382). The following predicted next-day LOC eating: craving one or more foods; seeing other people eat/prepare appetizing foods; hearing other people talk about appetizing foods; and problems with family members and physical pain (odds ratios ≥1.54, ps ≤ 0.0430). Problems with school/work, friends, and romantic relationships, dieting, hunger, and body dissatisfaction were not significantly associated with same- or next-day LOC eating. After applying a Benjamini-Hochberg correction, only seeing other people eat/prepare appetizing foods was associated with higher odds of same-day LOC eating (p corrected = 0.0136); all next-day associations were non-significant. Data suggest that exposure to appetizing foods in various forms may be the experience most closely related to young men's risk for LOC eating.