Thesis
Hedonic hunger and quality of the home food environment during behavioral weight loss
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
Sep 2021
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00000892
Abstract
The modern food environment is a known contributor to the obesity epidemic in the United States. In the current environment, many individuals experience hedonic hunger, which is a pleasure-based drive to consume palatable foods. The composition of the food environment, particularly one's home food environment (HFE), can predict eating behavior and diet quality. This study examined how hedonic hunger and the HFE changed among adults (N = 88) enrolled in behavioral weight loss (BWL) and investigated the relationship between the HFE, hedonic hunger, and weight change. This project tested novel hypotheses about hedonic hunger as a moderator and mediator of the relationship between baseline HFE, HFE improvements, and short- and long-term weight loss. Participants had weight measured in the research clinic and completed the Power of Food Scale (a measure of hedonic hunger) and a Home Food Inventory at Months 0, 6 (mid-treatment), 12 (post-treatment), and 24 (12-month follow-up). Results showed that hedonic hunger improved during treatment and reductions were sustained at long-term follow-up. Unhealthy refrigerator foods and total obesogenic foods also showed improvements during BWL, mostly during the active treatment period. Baseline hedonic hunger and HFE failed to predict short- or long-term weight loss, but their interaction was related to weight loss at 12 and 24 months. Poor HFE quality at baseline was associated with more weight loss amongst those with high baseline hedonic hunger, but less weight loss amongst those with low hedonic hunger. Improvements in hedonic hunger, but not the HFE, were associated with concurrent weight loss throughout treatment and follow-up. The hypothesis that hedonic hunger would mediate a relationship between HFE quality and weight change was not supported. Taken together, these findings suggest hedonic hunger and the HFE are modifiable during weight loss, and improvements to hedonic hunger can be sustained during follow-up. Individuals who have poor HFE quality and high reactivity to palatable food cues may benefit most from a BWL program.
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Details
- Title
- Hedonic hunger and quality of the home food environment during behavioral weight loss
- Creators
- Nicole T. Crane
- Contributors
- Meghan L. Butryn (Advisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (M.S.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- ix, 95 pages
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Brain Sciences (Psychology); College of Arts and Sciences; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991015684344004721