title: A Pilot Study on the Effects of Slow Paced Breathing on Current Food Craving.
abstract: Heart rate variability biofeedback (HRV-BF) involves slow paced breathing (approximately six breaths per minute), thereby maximizing low-frequent heart rate oscillations and baroreflex gain. Mounting evidence suggests that HRV-BF promotes symptom reductions in a variety of physical and mental disorders. It may also positively affect eating behavior by reducing food cravings. The aim of the current study was to investigate if slow paced breathing can be useful for attenuating momentary food craving. Female students performed paced breathing either at six breaths per minute (n = 32) or at nine breaths per minute (n = 33) while watching their favorite food on the computer screen. Current food craving decreased during a first resting period, increased during paced breathing, and decreased during a second resting period in both conditions. Although current hunger increased in both conditions during paced breathing as well, it remained elevated after the second resting period in the nine breaths condition only. Thus, breathing rate did not influence specific food craving, but slow paced breathing appeared to have a delayed influence on state hunger. Future avenues are suggested for the study of HRV-BF in the context of eating behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunner Straße 34, 5020, Salzburg, Austria. adrian.meule@sbg.ac.at.|Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Salzburg, Hellbrunner Straße 34, 5020, Salzburg, Austria. adrian.meule@sbg.ac.at.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meule
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kübler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology / Q000379:methods*; D066249:Craving / Q000502:physiology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005502:Food; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006815:Hunger / Q000502:physiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012119:Respiration; D056152:Respiratory Rate / Q000502:physiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Biofeedback; Eating behavior; Food craving; Food cues; Heart rate variability; Slow paced breathing