Improving Inhibitory Control Abilities (ImpulsE)—A Promising Approach to Treat Impulsive Eating?

Abstract

Although there is preliminary evidence that inhibitory control training improves impulsive eating, less is known about the effects on eating behaviour and weight loss in clinical samples. Sixty-nine treatment-seeking adults with obesity (binge-eating disorder 33.3%; other specific feeding and eating disorders 40.6%) were randomly blockwise allocated to ImpulsE, an intervention to improve inhibitory control and emotion regulation abilities or a guideline-appropriate cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)-based treatment as usual. Self-reported and performance-based impulsivity, eating disorder pathology and BMI were compared at baseline (T1), post-treatment (T2) and 1- or 3-month follow-up. ImpulsE led to better food-specific inhibition performance (p = .004), but groups did not differ regarding improvements in global Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) score at T2. At 3-month follow-up, binge eaters benefited most from ImpulsE (p = .028) and completers of ImpulsE demonstrated a significantly greater weight reduction (p = .030). The current findings propose ImpulsE as a promising approach to treat obesity, illustrating acceptability and additional benefits for course of weight. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

IMPULS: Impulsivity-Focused Group Intervention to Reduce Binge Eating Episodes in Patients with Binge Eating Disorder – A Randomised Controlled Trial

“…Taking these comparisons into account, it seems that IMPULS might be as effective as a CBT-based treatment as usual. This assumption is also in line with the conclusion that Preuss et al [37] have drawn from their RCT concerning an impulsivity-based treatment in obese patients.…”

“…Food cue exposure in virtual reality was also superior in reducing BE as a second-level treatment compared with ongoing CBT in a sample consisting of patients with bulimia nervosa or BED [36]. In a sample of obese patients with an included subgroup of patients with BED (33%), a group intervention delivering strategies concerning inhibitory control and emotion regulation combined with a computer-based training of inhibitory control was comparable with usual CBT concerning overeating [37]. To summarise, self-control strategies and food cue exposure seem fruitful to reduce BE and might be helpful in patients with BED.…”

Are trans diagnostic models of eating disorders fit for purpose? A consideration of the evidence for food addiction

“…While individuals would be recommended to avoid highly processed foods, treatment based on this new model would continue to discourage individuals from restricting healthy foods, to prevent them from reaching a state of semi‐starvation. Target 3: To counteract habit formation that entrenches stimulus response association between food cues and eating, another addition may be to add treatments, which target impulsivity and habitual patterns of responding. Pilot studies for computerized approaches such as stop signal and go/no‐go training have potential . Moreover, research in progress using these computerized approaches, as well as virtual reality cue exposure and emotional regulation video game training are being modified to become more accessible, more rewarding, and more personalized .…”

Food addiction and impaired executive functions in women with obesity

“…Some researchers have proposed that OB and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) might share a common neurocognitive phenotype, characterized by deficits in hot executive functions, associated with impaired inhibitory control and impulsivity have (Lavagnino, Arnone, Cao, Soares, & Selvaraj, 2016;Preuss, Pinnow, Schnicker, & Legenbauer, 2017). Previous studies have observed that people with OB performed significantly worse on tasks assessing domains such as interference control, memory span length, and reward sensitivity in comparison with healthy weight controls (Aiello et al, 2018;Fagundo et al, 2012;Farooq, Gibson, Reilly, & Gaoua, 2018;Song et al, 2016).…”

“…Previous studies have observed that people with OB performed significantly worse on tasks assessing domains such as interference control, memory span length, and reward sensitivity in comparison with healthy weight controls (Aiello et al, 2018;Fagundo et al, 2012;Farooq, Gibson, Reilly, & Gaoua, 2018;Song et al, 2016). Specifically, interference control tasks assess the capacity of suppressing inappropriate actions that could interfere with achieving a long-term goal, and evidence suggests that some individuals with OB display difficulty inhibiting automatic or model-free behaviour (MacLeod, 1991;Preuss et al, 2017). Lastly, there is increasing evidence to support that OB has a detrimental effect on overall attentional capacity (Cook et al, 2017;Fagundo et al, 2012;Siervo et al, 2011;Tsai, Huang, & Tsai, 2017).…”