title: Food cravings prospectively predict decreases in perceived self-regulatory success in dieting.
abstract: Food cravings are assumed to hamper dieting success, but most findings are based on cross-sectional studies. In the current study, female students were tested at the beginning of their first semester at university and six months later. They completed the Food Cravings Questionnaire-Trait-reduced (FCQ-T-r), the disinhibition subscale of the Eating Inventory, and the Perceived Self-Regulatory Success in Dieting Scale, and their height and weight were measured. Scores on the FCQ-T-r prospectively predicted higher disinhibition and lower perceived self-regulatory success in dieting after six months. Although FCQ-T-r scores did not predict increases in body mass index (BMI) directly, a serial mediation model revealed an indirect effect of FCQ-T-r scores at baseline on BMI after six months via increased disinhibition scores and decreased perceived self-regulatory success in dieting. To conclude, the current results provide evidence for a prospective relationship between trait food craving and decreases in dieting success. Furthermore, they suggest a possible mediator of this association (i.e., increases in disinhibited eating) as well as an indirect effect on body weight. Measurement of trait food craving may be a useful tool for predicting or monitoring treatment changes and relapse in eating- and weight disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria; Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria. Electronic address: adrian.meule@sbg.ac.at.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meule
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria; Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Richard
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Platte
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D066249:Craving; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004035:Diet Therapy / Q000523:psychology; D004435:Eating; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Body mass index; Dieting success; Disinhibition; Food craving; Longitudinal study; Mediation