title: The discrepancy between implicit and explicit attitudes in predicting disinhibited eating.
abstract: Disinhibited eating (i.e., the tendency to overeat, despite intentions not to do so, in the presence of palatable foods or other cues such as emotional stress) is strongly linked with obesity and appears to be associated with both implicit (automatic) and explicit (deliberative) food attitudes. Prior research suggests that a large discrepancy between implicit and explicit food attitudes may contribute to greater levels of disinhibited eating; however this theory has not been directly tested. The current study examined whether the discrepancy between implicit and explicit attitudes towards chocolate could predict both lab-based and self-reported disinhibited eating of chocolate. Results revealed that, whereas neither implicit nor explicit attitudes alone predicted disinhibited eating, absolute attitude discrepancy positively predicted chocolate consumption. Impulsivity moderated this effect, such that discrepancy was less predictive of disinhibited eating for those who exhibited lower levels of impulsivity. The results align with the meta-cognitive model to indicate that attitude discrepancy may be involved in overeating.
authors.affiliation: Drexel University, United States.
authors.forename: Stephanie P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.affiliation: Drexel University, United States. Electronic address: evan.forman@drexel.edu.
authors.forename: Evan M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Forman
authors.affiliation: Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel.
authors.forename: Nachshon
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Meiran
authors.affiliation: Drexel University, United States.
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Herbert
authors.affiliation: Drexel University, United States.
authors.forename: Adrienne S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Juarascio
authors.affiliation: Drexel University, United States.
authors.forename: Meghan L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Butryn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D002099:Cacao; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D011582:Psychological Theory; D057566:Self Report; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Attitude discrepancy; Disinhibition; Explicit attitudes; Implicit attitudes; Impulsivity