title: The independent and interacting effects of hedonic hunger and executive function on binge eating.
abstract: Poor executive function (EF; pre-frontal cognitive control processes governing goal-directed behavior) and elevated hedonic hunger (i.e., preoccupation with palatable foods in the absence of physiological hunger) are theoretical risk and maintenance factors for binge eating (BE) distinct from general obesity. Recent theoretical models posit that dysregulated behavior such as BE may result from a combination of elevated appetitive drive (e.g., hedonic hunger) and decreased EF (e.g., inhibitory control and delayed discounting). The present study sought to test this model in distinguishing BE from general obesity by examining the independent and interactive associations of EF and hedonic hunger with BE group status (i.e., odds of categorization in BE group versus non-BE group). Treatment-seeking overweight and obese women with BE (n = 31) and without BE (OW group; n = 43) were assessed on measures of hedonic hunger and EF (inhibitory control and delay discounting). Elevated hedonic hunger increased the likelihood of categorization in the BE group, regardless of EF. When hedonic hunger was low, poor EF increased the likelihood of categorization in the BE group. Results indicate that the interplay of increased appetitive drives and decreased cognitive function may distinguish BE from overweight/obesity. Future longitudinal investigations of the combinatory effect of hedonic hunger and EF in increasing risk for developing BE are warranted, and may inform future treatment development to target these factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Drexel University, Stratton Hall, 3141 Chestnut Street, Suite 119, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. Electronic address: smm522@drexel.edu.
authors.forename: Stephanie M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Manasse
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Drexel University, Stratton Hall, 3141 Chestnut Street, Suite 119, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Hallie M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Espel
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Drexel University, Stratton Hall, 3141 Chestnut Street, Suite 119, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Evan M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Forman
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Anthony C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ruocco
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Drexel University, Stratton Hall, 3141 Chestnut Street, Suite 119, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Adrienne S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Juarascio
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Drexel University, Stratton Hall, 3141 Chestnut Street, Suite 119, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Meghan L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Butryn
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Drexel University, Stratton Hall, 3141 Chestnut Street, Suite 119, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Fengqing
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Drexel University, Stratton Hall, 3141 Chestnut Street, Suite 119, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Lowe
mesh_terms: D001066:Appetite; D056912:Binge-Eating Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D002032:Bulimia / Q000523:psychology*; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology; D003071:Cognition; D065786:Delay Discounting; D004435:Eating / Q000523:psychology*; D056344:Executive Function; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006815:Hunger; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology*; D057181:Pleasure; D012528:Satiety Response; D000068356:Self-Control; D013649:Taste
keywords: Binge eating; Delayed discounting; Executive function; Hedonic hunger; Inhibitory control