Individual differences in executive function predict distinct eating behaviours

Executive function has been shown to influence the performance of health behaviours. Healthy eating involves both the inhibitory behaviour of consuming low amounts of saturated fat, and the initiatory behaviour of consuming fruit and vegetables. Based on this distinction, it was hypothesised that th...

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Main Authors: Allom, V., Mullan, Barbara
Format: Journal Article
Published: Elsevier BV 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/38160
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author Allom, V.
Mullan, Barbara
author_facet Allom, V.
Mullan, Barbara
author_sort Allom, V.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Executive function has been shown to influence the performance of health behaviours. Healthy eating involves both the inhibitory behaviour of consuming low amounts of saturated fat, and the initiatory behaviour of consuming fruit and vegetables. Based on this distinction, it was hypothesised that these behaviours would have different determinants. Measures of inhibitory control and updating were administered to 115 participants across 2 days. One week later saturated fat intake and fruit and vegetable consumption were measured. Regression analyses revealed a double dissociation effect between the different executive function variables and the prediction of eating behaviours. Specifically, inhibitory control, but not updating, predict saturated fat intake, whilst updating, but not inhibitory control, was related to fruit and vegetable consumption. In both cases, better executive function capacity was associated with healthier eating behaviour. The results support the idea that behaviours that require stopping a response such as limiting saturated fat intake, have different determinants to those that require the initiation of a response such as fruit and vegetable consumption. The findings suggest that interventions aimed at improving these behaviours should address the relevant facet of executive function.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-381602017-09-13T14:10:54Z Individual differences in executive function predict distinct eating behaviours Allom, V. Mullan, Barbara Working memory Updating Inhibitory control Healthy eating Executive function Executive function has been shown to influence the performance of health behaviours. Healthy eating involves both the inhibitory behaviour of consuming low amounts of saturated fat, and the initiatory behaviour of consuming fruit and vegetables. Based on this distinction, it was hypothesised that these behaviours would have different determinants. Measures of inhibitory control and updating were administered to 115 participants across 2 days. One week later saturated fat intake and fruit and vegetable consumption were measured. Regression analyses revealed a double dissociation effect between the different executive function variables and the prediction of eating behaviours. Specifically, inhibitory control, but not updating, predict saturated fat intake, whilst updating, but not inhibitory control, was related to fruit and vegetable consumption. In both cases, better executive function capacity was associated with healthier eating behaviour. The results support the idea that behaviours that require stopping a response such as limiting saturated fat intake, have different determinants to those that require the initiation of a response such as fruit and vegetable consumption. The findings suggest that interventions aimed at improving these behaviours should address the relevant facet of executive function. 2014 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/38160 10.1016/j.appet.2014.05.007 Elsevier BV restricted
spellingShingle Working memory
Updating
Inhibitory control
Healthy eating
Executive function
Allom, V.
Mullan, Barbara
Individual differences in executive function predict distinct eating behaviours
title Individual differences in executive function predict distinct eating behaviours
title_full Individual differences in executive function predict distinct eating behaviours
title_fullStr Individual differences in executive function predict distinct eating behaviours
title_full_unstemmed Individual differences in executive function predict distinct eating behaviours
title_short Individual differences in executive function predict distinct eating behaviours
title_sort individual differences in executive function predict distinct eating behaviours
topic Working memory
Updating
Inhibitory control
Healthy eating
Executive function
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/38160