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Executive functions and consumption of fruits/ vegetables and high saturated fat foods in young adults
The purpose of this 2015 study was to examine the relationship between people’s executive functions, fruit and vegetable consumption, and the intake of foods rich in saturated fat. Limbers & Young found that research was lacking on the association between healthy dietary behaviors and executive functions (using behavioral rating scales), even though executive functions are important in the control of eating behaviors and are linked with overeating. Therefore, the 240 university students recruited by this study completed the Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning-Adult Version, the 26-Item Eating Attitudes Test, and the Diet subscale of the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities Questionnaire. The researchers controlled for demographic variables, body mass index, and eating styles in the analysis models. The data showed several associations, including a positive link between initiation skills and fruit and vegetable consumption in the past 7 days. Moreover, greater inhibitory control correlated with lower intake of foods high in fat. But the executive functions that predict fruit and vegetable intake was determined to be different to those that can forecast fatty food avoidance. The writers suggest future research to consider checking if the improvement of initiation and inhibition skills through behavioral interventions can lead to benefits with regards to long-term weight control. [NPID: cognition, executive function, FV intake, inhibitory control, high fat, weight control]
Year: 2015
