distraction, cognition

Question 1

distraction and intake

Answer 1

Robinson et al., (2013) meta-analysis
* Immediate and delayed increase in intake after distracted food consumption (e.g. distracted at breakfast means may also eat more at lunch- link to memory)
* Paying attention to food linked to reduced intake and enhanced food
memory. (attending meant reflecting on food and other tasks)

• Principles of ‘Attentive’ eating may be important for weight-loss
  interventions.
  1. Eating devoid of distractions
  2. Prompting memory recall of food previously consumed
  3. Being aware of food consumed
  4. Enhancing memory of food consumed

Question 2

attention and consumption

Answer 2

Robinson, Kersbergen & Higgs (2014)
* 48 overweight and obese women
* Fixed lunchtime meal
* Focussed attention condition vs. control condition
* Outcomes:
* Consumption of snack food at free eating session later that day
* Memory of meal.
Results:
- Snack consumption 30% lower in focused condition
- Memory for the meal was NOT improved.- more research needed on this memory mechanism explanation

Question 3

distraction on SSS?

Answer 3

Brunstrom & Mitchell (2006) distraction study - Part 2
* Desire to eat, pleasantness and intensity ratings for Jaffa Cakes and for two
uneaten foods, measured before and at 3 time points after consuming 5
Jaffa Cakes.
* Non-distracted participants showed a reduction in desire to eat the Jaffa
Cakes in comparison to uneaten food (SSS).
* Distracted participants maintained a desire to eat all foods.
* Is distraction important in the context of obesity?

so distraction disrupts sensory specific satiety

Question 4

the limited cognitive capacity theory:

Answer 4

(Boon, Stroebe, Schut & Ijntema (2002)
▫ Disinhibited intake occurs in restrained eaters if
there are limitations on their cognitive
capacity (demanding tasks), regardless of
emotional component
- if we ask dieters to do somehting when eating, they are more likely to eat as their cognitive resource is taken up so they dont hold their cognitive boundary
▫ High restrained eaters ate more when distracted
compared to unrestrained eaters.

Question 5

cognition, distraction and intake

Answer 5

• Distraction and intake
• Dieters report higher levels of preoccupying
  cognitions than do non-dieters
• Associated with deficits in the functioning of working
  memory components

Question 6

cognitive control of teaing- relapse

Answer 6

Abstinence Violation Effect (AVE):

Defined as the negative emotional and cognitive reactions (e.g., guilt, shame, and hopelessness) that occur after breaking a period of self-imposed abstinence (such as dieting or avoiding binge eating). attributions we make to this break affect relapses!
Mentioned in the context of bulimia nervosa and dieting, it suggests that experiencing a lapse can significantly impact success in maintaining dietary goals. (Marlatt & Gordon, 1985)- negative attributions affect relapse rates

Cognitive Dissonance and High-Risk Situations:

Relapse can result from the mental discomfort of conflicting thoughts, such as wanting to maintain a diet but failing to do so. High-risk situations (e.g., stress, social pressure or a buffet) increase the likelihood of this conflict.

Internal, Stable, and Global Attributions:

When individuals attribute their relapse to personal, unchangeable, and all-encompassing factors (e.g., “I am incapable of change”), it amplifies the sense of failure. This is summed up as the mindset of “All is lost,” leading to further lapses- Grilo & Shiffman,
1994)

Question 7

restraint and working memory

Answer 7

• Poorer recall on a phonological similarity task (phonological
  loop) and slower planning times on the Tower of London Task
  (central executive; Green & Rogers, 1998).
• Evidence of deficits in performance on tasks targeting CE and
  PL (particularly phonological store; Vreugdenberg, Bryan &
  Kemps, 2003)
• Mediating variable of body concern
• Partially mediated by preoccupying thoughts about food,
  weight and body shape, but not by BMI or depressed affect
  (Kemps, Tiggemann & Marshall, 2004)

Question 8

USE OF EMA

Answer 8

• EMA involves repeated sampling of an individual’s
  behaviours in their natural environment.
• Electronic diary or phone app.
• Record responses when feeling a particular way, in
  response to an event, or at predetermined intervals
  ▫ Lots of data
  ▫ Aims to minimise recall biases
  ▫ Useful in understanding ‘in the moment’ thoughts,
  feelings and beliefs and can provide insights into
  individuals experiences.

Randle et al (2023)
* N = 10 studies
* Evidence of within person changes in appetite and affect
accompany temptations and lapses, and are observable in the
moments precipitating a lapse
* Negative abstinence violation effects apparent following a lapse
* Employing coping strategies during temptations is effective for
preventing lapses
* EMA helps to identify real-time opportunities for intervention and
support.