Concurrent visuo-spatial processing reduces food cravings in prescribed weight-loss dieters

The study investigated the relative effectiveness of thought suppression and the working memory-based method of dynamic visual noise as techniques for reducing food cravings. Twenty dieting women on the weight-loss programme prescribed by weight watchers and 20 non-dieting controls formed images of their most craved food and then suppressed thoughts of the food or watched a flickering pattern of black and white dots (dynamic visual noise). Both thought suppression and dynamic visual noise reduced cravings for weight watchers and non-dieters. However, their relative effectiveness varied according to participant dieting status. Specifically, while both techniques reduced cravings equally well for non-dieters, dynamic visual noise was clearly the more effective technique for weight watchers. Thus, dynamic visual noise may provide a useful tool for controlling problematic cravings in clinically overweight or obese individuals who are actively trying to lose weight.

Author Affiliation:

School of Psychology, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia

Article History:

Received 3 March 2006; Revised 22 December 2006; Accepted 16 March 2007

Source Citation:Kemps, Eva, Marika Tiggemann, and Rebecca Christianson. "Concurrent visuo-spatial processing reduces food cravings in prescribed weight-loss dieters.(Report)." Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry 39.2 (June 2008): 177(10). Academic OneFile