Slowing down and taking a second look: Inhibitory deficits associated with binge eating are not food-specific. (1st January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Manasse, Stephanie M.; Goldstein, Stephanie P.; Wyckoff, Emily; Forman, Evan M.; Juarascio, Adrienne S.; Butryn, Meghan L.; Ruocco, Anthony C.; Nederkoorn, Chantal
• Is Part Of: Appetite. Volume 96(2016)
• Page Start: 555
• Page End: 559
• Publication Date: 2016-01-01
• Subjects: Inhibitory control -- Response inhibition -- Stop signal task -- Binge eating -- Loss-of-control eating; Food habits -- Periodicals; Appetite -- Periodicals; Appetite disorders -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 306.4613
• DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2015.10.025
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0195-6663

Abstract

Abstract: Poor inhibitory control may contribute to the maintenance of binge eating (BE) among overweight and obese individuals. However, it is unknown whether deficits are general or specific to food (versus other attractive non-food stimuli), or whether observed deficits are attributable to increased depressive symptoms in BE groups. In the current study, we hypothesized that individuals with BE would display inhibitory control deficits, with more pronounced deficits occurring when food stimuli were used. Overweight or obese participants with (n = 25) and without (n = 65) BE completed a Stop Signal Task (SST) with distinct task blocks featuring food-specific stimuli, positive non-food stimuli, or neutral stimuli. The BE group exhibited poorer inhibitory control across SST stimuli types ( p = .003, η p 2 = .10 ), but deficits did not differ by stimuli type ( p = .68, η p 2 < .01). Including depression as a covariate did not significantly alter results. Results suggest individuals with BE display inhibitory control deficits compared to controls; however, deficits do not appear to be specific to stimuli type. Furthermore, inhibitory control deficits do not appear to be associated with mood disturbance in the BE group. Replication and further research is needed to guide treatment targets. Highlights: We sought to distinguish food-specific from general inhibitory control deficits in overweight women with binge eating. Treatment-seeking overweight and obese women (with and without binge eating) were assessed. Women with binge eating displayed deficits in inhibitory control. Deficits did not appear to be more pronounced when using a food-specific inhibitory control task.