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Food consciousness intervention improves interoceptive sensitivity and expression of exteroception in women
Interoception (the awareness of a body’s internal states) and the perception and processing of one’s environmental sensory input (exteroception) work in tandem to regulate adaptive behaviors (such as eating) and are linked to the regulation of body weight. In this study by Palazzo et al. (2022), the authors investigated the effect of the Food and Nutrition Education Program with Sensory and Cognitive Exercises on the sensitivity of interoception and exteroceptive perception in a sample of 37 adult women (20-59 years old, BMI between 18.5 and 34.9 kg/m2) who reported difficulties in body weight control. Participants were randomized into two groups and were examined before and after administering the intervention, and before and after a 3-4 weeks waiting period. Data from a heartbeat tracking task helped evaluate interoception, while a writing task describing three foods after tasting them helped evaluate exteroception. The results showed that, following the intervention, participants demonstrated an increase in sensitivity of interoception and in exteroceptive perception. Furthermore, the results revealed a potential relationship between interoceptive mechanisms and exteroception. The authors comment that their work adds to the understanding of perception-promoting strategies and the practice of incorporating physiological and environmental stimuli in food intake. [NPID: Consciousness, exteroception, food education, nutrition education, interoception, nutritional trial, text production]
Year: 2022
