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Thesis
An ERP investigation of food cue responsivity in non-obese, weight gain prone individuals
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
May 2015
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-6548
Abstract
Obesity is highly prevalent in our society and is challenging to treat in the long term. Weight gain prevention programs are necessary to preclude obesity development, but would be facilitated by a better understanding of who is the most likely to gain weight. A history of dieting with the intent of weight loss has been shown to be a robust predictor of future weight gain, although the mechanisms responsible for this relationship are unclear. One potential factor in propensity towards weight gain is the nature of people's reactions to the abundance of highly palatable food cues in the environment. Event Related Potentials (ERPs) have unearthed differences in how the brain processes palatable food cues among obese and normal weight individuals, as well as restrained and unrestrained eaters. However, comparisons by weight status lack information about whether or not differences are a function of weight gain itself, and restrained eating status has not consistently been found to predict future weight gain. The present study compared ERP response to food cues in non-obese historic dieters (HDs) to non-obese never dieters (NDs). A dieting history by hunger interaction was seen on mean amplitude for P1, N1, P3, and LPP ERP components, suggesting that physiological hunger state has a differential effect on the way HDs and NDs process visual food cues. Specifically, we found that NDs consistently exhibit a larger attentional response when full than when hungry. HDs, on the other hand, show an early, pre-conscious response unaffected by hunger state and a late, sustained response that is larger when hungry than when full. Future research should test food cue responsivity as a moderator between dieting and future weight gain in order to ultimately better identify those most at risk for weight gain.
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Details
- Title
- An ERP investigation of food cue responsivity in non-obese, weight gain prone individuals
- Creators
- Emily Hatow Feig - DU
- Contributors
- Michael R. Lowe (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (M.S.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences (Psychology); College of Arts and Sciences; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 6548; 991014632321704721