FMRI of Dietary Decision-making in Food Addicted Participants Compared to Non-food Addicted Participants

Why in some situations can words soothe our cravings? This research proposal will test the power of self-generated reasons for behavioural change in food addiction, which concerns about three out of ten persons and causes major life hazards such as obesity, diabetes and cancer. While food addiction is becoming more and more frequent in western societies, not much is known about its underlying neurocognitive mechanisms and how to tackle it. This study aims to investigate if and why certain types of affirmation-based therapies such as motivational interviewing (MI) are beneficial for the treatment of food addiction. The working hypothesis proposes that cognitive regulation-based self-control underpins the neurocognitive shift of a patient's willingness to change addictive behaviour, generated by the patient during MI therapy of food addiction. To test this hypothesis this study combines functional magnetic resonance imaging with behavioural testing of dietary decision-making following a participant's change or sustain talk statements. It will compare three groups of participants with and without food addiction and obesity and lean controls. This study will contribute to the improvement of therapies based upon talking oneself in and out of addiction promoting goals. Findings will provide a better understanding of how our everyday life dietary decision-environments prompt good intentions such as improving long-term nutritional quality to actual behaviours such as forgoing immediate desire.