Self-identified strategies to manage intake of tempting foods: cross-sectional and prospective associations with BMI and snack intake

Objectives:Individuals often use self-directed strategies to manage intake of tempting foods, but what these strategies are and whether they are effective is not well understood. This study assessed the frequency of use and subjective effectiveness of self-directed strategies in relation to BMI and snack intake.Design:A cross-sectional and prospective study with three timepoints (T1: baseline, T2: 3 months, T3: 3 years). At T1, demographics, frequency of use and subjective effectiveness of 41 identified strategies were assessed. At T2 and T3, current weight was reported, and at T2 frequency of snack intake was also recorded.Setting:Online study in the UK.Participants:Data from N=368 participants (Mage=34.41 years; MBMI=25.06 kg/m2) was used for analysis at T1, N=170 (46.20% of the total sample) at T2 and N=51 (13.59%) at T3.Results:Two strategy factors were identified via principal axis factoring: 1) Diet, exercise, reduction of temptations, and cognitive strategies, and 2) Planning, preparation and eating style. For strategy 1, frequency of use, but not subjective effectiveness, was positively related to BMI at T1. Subjective effectiveness predicted an increase in BMI from T1 and T2 to T3. No relationship to snack intake was found. For strategy 2, frequency of use was negatively related to BMI at T1. Neither frequency of use nor subjective effectiveness were related to changes in BMI over time, but subjective effectiveness was negatively correlated with unhealthy snack intake.Conclusion:Self-directed strategies to reduce the intake of tempting foods are not consistently related to BMI or snack intake

Effect of food variety on intake of a meal: a systematic review and meta-analysis

A systematic review and meta-analysis exploring the effect of food variety on food intake (the variety effect)

Influences on willingness of a Western population to try an insect-diet

To determine whether western consumers would be willing to try an insect-burger

Eating behaviour and psychological traits across weight management clusters

Previous research has suggested that differences in psychological traits and eating behaviours may characterise groups of individuals with similar weight management profiles, for example, individuals who have successfully maintained a significant weight loss compared to those who have not. However, studies have tended to rely on arbitrary thresholds to group individuals, which may have biased findings. Across two studies, we sought to identify and validate weight management profiles using a clustering approach (i.e., without pre-defined grouping thresholds) and to examine differences across groups in terms of psychological and eating behaviour traits

Identifying weight management clusters and examining differences in eating behaviour and psychological traits

Previous research has suggested that differences in psychological traits and eating behaviours may characterise groups of individuals with similar weight management profiles, for example, individuals who have maintained a significant weight loss compared to those who have not. However, no study has looked at differences in traits across a sample with natural variation in bodyweight and its management. Across two studies, we sought to identify and validate weight management profiles using a clustering approach, and to examine differences across groups in terms of various traits. Data were collected using online questionnaires (Study 1: secondary data analysis; Study 2: primary data analysis allowing for cluster validation). Cluster analysis was implemented with BMI, diet history, weight suppression (difference between highest and current weight) as primary grouping variables, and age and gender as covariates. Differences in psychological and eating behaviour traits (e.g., restraint) were explored across clusters. In study 1, 423 participants (27.21 ± 9.90 years) were grouped into 5 clusters: ‘lean men’, ‘lean young women’, ‘lean middle-aged women’, ‘successful’ and ‘unsuccessful dieters’. The cluster structure was broadly replicated in study 2 with 368 participants (34.41 ± 13.63 years). In both studies, unsuccessful dieters had higher restrained and emotional eating scores than lean individuals, and in study 1, they also had higher food addiction scores than successful dieters. Individuals could be grouped in terms of their weight management profiles and differences in psychological and eating behaviour traits were evident across these groups. The identified natural clusters confirmed the pre-defined groups used in previous research (i.e., lean individuals with little need to diet, successful and unsuccessful dieters). Additionally, the results strengthened the importance of gender and age when comparing weight management groupings