Cognitive Defusion as Strategy to Reduce the Intensity of Craving Episodes and Improve Eating Behavior

Abstract

The elaborated intrusion theory of desire proposes that craving is a cognitive motivational process involving intrusive thoughts. Changing the way we react to them, cognitive defusion (CD), should limit thought elaboration and craving. We induced chocolate craving in female chocolate cravers before CD (Study 1). A decrease in craving measured by a single-item scale, Visual Analogical Scale (VAS; p < .001, ηp2 = .449) and as a state, State Food Craving Questionnaire (FCQ-S; p = .029, ηp2 = .106) were found in the experimental group, while similar results were also found in group control. The reduction in craving (VAS) in group CD correlated negatively with chocolate consumption on a bogus taste test (r = –.439, p = .036), while the correlation was positive in the case of group control (r = .429, p = .047). Food craving as a trait, measured by the Trait Food Craving Questionnaire (FCQ-T), showed negative correlations with measures of CD and mindfulness skills (lowest r = –.313, p = .018). In Study 2 participants made use of a smartphone application implementing the CD procedure in real contexts whenever they experienced food craving. A corresponding decline in self-reported craving was found, as well as in consumption of the craved food (indulgence) compared with the control condition. Our findings indicate that CD may be a promising intervention for tackling the elaboration of intrusive thoughts and eating behavior in young female food cravers, both in a controlled laboratory environment after a cue-food exposure craving induction procedure, as well as responding to naturally occurring food cravings in real-life settings.

Mindful eating: what we know so far

“…According to this theory, decentering strategies will reduce the believability of these mental simulations and, in doing so, lessen the extent to which they elicit craving and desire. Several studies support this prediction (Keesman et al, 2020; Schumacher et al, 2018; Schnepper et al, 2019; Tapper, 2018; Wilson et al, 2021, though see also Hinojosa‐Aguayo & González, 2022; Hulbert‐Williams et al, 2019; Mantzios et al, 2020; Masih et al, 2020; Tapper & Turner, 2018). As such, decentering strategies may be helpful for craving management even in the absence of additional mindfulness training.…”

“…However, there were no significant effects on subsequent consumption of (‘unhealthy’) chocolate or (‘healthy’) almonds. Similarly, Hinojosa‐Aguayo and González (2022) used a 3‐minute exercise in which they guided participants to decenter from their thoughts, but again this had no effect on the amount of chocolate snack consumed relative to those who had spent 3 minutes listening to an extract from a novel.…”

“…Both Hulbert‐Williams et al and Hooper et al also measured chocolate consumption in the laboratory immediately after the end of the intervention period and found significantly lower levels of consumption in the decentering conditions. Similarly, Hinojosa‐Aguayo and González (2022) looked at consumption of craved foods over a 2‐week period. They asked participants to listen to a 3‐minute audio recording every time they experienced a craving; 5 minutes later they were prompted to report whether they had eaten the food they had been craving.…”

“…More specifically, they were less likely to select an ‘unhealthy’ snack and more likely to choose a salad. However, when Hinojosa‐Aguayo and González (2022) used 3 minutes of audio instruction to encourage participants to decenter from their thoughts following a craving induction, this had no effect on their subsequent selection of a ‘healthy’ versus ‘unhealthy’ snack to take home as a thank you gift (relative to a control condition who had listened to an extract from a novel).…”