title: Executive functioning and dietary intake: Neurocognitive correlates of fruit, vegetable, and saturated fat intake in adults with obesity.
abstract: Obesity is a significant public health issue, and is associated with poor diet. Evidence suggests that eating behavior is related to individual differences in executive functioning. Poor executive functioning is associated with poorer diet (few fruits and vegetables and high saturated fat) in normal weight samples; however, the relationship between these specific dietary behaviors and executive functioning have not been investigated in adults with obesity. The current study examined the association between executive functioning and intake of saturated fat, fruits, and vegetables in an overweight/obese sample using behavioral measures of executive function and dietary recall. One-hundred-ninety overweight and obese adults completed neuropsychological assessments measuring intelligence, planning ability, and inhibitory control followed by three dietary recall assessments within a month prior to beginning a behavioral weight loss treatment program. Inhibitory control and two of the three indices of planning each independently significantly predicted fruit and vegetable consumption such that those with better inhibition and planning ability consumed more fruits and vegetables. No relationship was found between executive functioning and saturated fat intake. Results increase understanding of how executive functioning influences eating behavior in overweight and obese adults, and suggest the importance of including executive functioning training components in dietary interventions for those with obesity. Further research is needed to determine causality as diet and executive functioning may bidirectionally influence each other.
authors.affiliation: University of Connecticut, Department of Psychological Sciences, Storrs, CT, United States. Electronic address: emily.wyckoff@uconn.edu.
authors.forename: Emily P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Wyckoff
authors.affiliation: Drexel University, Department of Psychology, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
authors.forename: Brittney C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: Drexel University, Department of Psychology, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
authors.forename: Stephanie M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Manasse
authors.affiliation: Drexel University, Department of Psychology, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
authors.forename: Meghan L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Butryn
authors.affiliation: Drexel University, Department of Psychology, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
authors.forename: Evan M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Forman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004034:Diet Surveys / Q000379:methods; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004435:Eating / Q000523:psychology*; D056344:Executive Function; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D007266:Inhibition, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014675:Vegetables; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats
keywords: Diet; Executive functioning; Fruits and vegetables; Obesity