Concurrent visuo-spatial processing reduces food cravings in prescribed weight-loss dieters.
The study investigated the relative effectiveness of thought suppression and the working memory-based method of dynamic visual noise as techniques for reducing food cravings. Twenty dieting women on the weight-loss programme prescribed by weight watchers and 20 non-dieting controls formed images of their most craved food and then suppressed thoughts of the food or watched a flickering pattern of black and white dots (dynamic visual noise). Both thought suppression and dynamic visual noise reduced cravings for weight watchers and non-dieters. However, their relative effectiveness varied according to participant dieting status. Specifically, while both techniques reduced cravings equally well for non-dieters, dynamic visual noise was clearly the more effective technique for weight watchers. Thus, dynamic visual noise may provide a useful tool for controlling problematic cravings in clinically overweight or obese individuals who are actively trying to lose weight.
Kemps
Eva
E
School of Psychology, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia. Eva.Kemps@flinders.edu.au
Tiggemann
Marika
M
Christianson
Rebecca
R
D000328:Adult; D001066:Appetite; D001288:Attention; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004038:Diet, Reducing / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D013850:Thinking; D015431:Weight Loss