Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-08-07DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2025.108257
Katie L Edwards, Abigail Pickard, Claire Farrow, Emma Haycraft, Moritz Herle, Clare Llewellyn, Helen Croker, Jacqueline Blissett
Introduction: Children's avid eating behaviour is characterised by frequent snacking and food responsiveness. Parents need evidence-based advice on specific feeding practices, such as distraction techniques and portioning, that can be used to reduce children's intake of high energy-dense snacks. This experimental laboratory study tested the effectiveness of these feeding practices.
Methods: Parents and children (3-5 years; N = 129) who were identified as having an avid or typical eating profile were recruited and randomly allocated to one of three conditions. Following a standardised meal, children's energy intake (kcal) in the absence of hunger was assessed. While children had access to a snack buffet, parents were asked to use one of the following feeding practices: (1) Distract - using distraction techniques to delay children's snack intake; (2) Portion - allowing children to have snacks from pre-portioned pots; or (3) Control - allowing children to eat the type and number of snacks that their child wanted to.
Results: Children in the distraction condition consumed significantly less energy from snacks (M = 54.44 kcal, SD = 73.30) compared to children in the portion (M = 103.89 kcal, SD = 91.33, p < .001) or control condition (M = 115.92 kcal, SD = 90.55, p < .001). Energy intake in the portion and control conditions was not significantly different (p > .05). Children with avid versus typical eating profiles did not differ significantly in energy intake (p > .05).
Conclusion: Parental use of distraction techniques may be effective for reducing children's intake of high energy-dense snacks and could be recommended for use to support the development of children's healthy eating. Research to examine the effectiveness of distraction in real-world settings is now needed.
{"title":"Parental use of distraction and portioning to reduce snack intake by children with avid eating behaviour: An experimental laboratory study.","authors":"Katie L Edwards, Abigail Pickard, Claire Farrow, Emma Haycraft, Moritz Herle, Clare Llewellyn, Helen Croker, Jacqueline Blissett","doi":"10.1016/j.appet.2025.108257","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.appet.2025.108257","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Children's avid eating behaviour is characterised by frequent snacking and food responsiveness. Parents need evidence-based advice on specific feeding practices, such as distraction techniques and portioning, that can be used to reduce children's intake of high energy-dense snacks. This experimental laboratory study tested the effectiveness of these feeding practices.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Parents and children (3-5 years; N = 129) who were identified as having an avid or typical eating profile were recruited and randomly allocated to one of three conditions. Following a standardised meal, children's energy intake (kcal) in the absence of hunger was assessed. While children had access to a snack buffet, parents were asked to use one of the following feeding practices: (1) Distract - using distraction techniques to delay children's snack intake; (2) Portion - allowing children to have snacks from pre-portioned pots; or (3) Control - allowing children to eat the type and number of snacks that their child wanted to.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Children in the distraction condition consumed significantly less energy from snacks (M = 54.44 kcal, SD = 73.30) compared to children in the portion (M = 103.89 kcal, SD = 91.33, p < .001) or control condition (M = 115.92 kcal, SD = 90.55, p < .001). Energy intake in the portion and control conditions was not significantly different (p > .05). Children with avid versus typical eating profiles did not differ significantly in energy intake (p > .05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Parental use of distraction techniques may be effective for reducing children's intake of high energy-dense snacks and could be recommended for use to support the development of children's healthy eating. Research to examine the effectiveness of distraction in real-world settings is now needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":242,"journal":{"name":"Appetite","volume":"216 ","pages":"108257"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144803036","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-08-05DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2025.108256
Georgia Chatonidi, Riet Rosseel, Boushra Dalile, Dina Satriawan, Greet Vandermeulen, Bram Van Holm, Luke Comer, Piet Maes, Nadia Everaert, Christophe M Courtin, Kristin Verbeke
Bread is a major source of carbohydrates in Europe, and whole meal varieties may offer better metabolic responses and increased satiety than white bread. We compared the effects of three types of whole meal bread: whole meal yeast bread (WYB), whole meal sourdough bread (WSB), and whole meal sourdough and yeast bread (WSYB), on appetite regulation and metabolic outcomes in healthy subjects. The sourdough contained Fructilactobacillus sanfranciscensis and Maudiozyma humilis, and the process time depended on the leavening agent. In this double-blind, randomized crossover trial, 44 participants (25 ± 4 years, BMI: 22 ± 2 kg/m2) consumed 180g/day of each bread type for two weeks, separated by a 2-week washout period. Habitual food intake was reported and a fecal sample was collected for microbiota analysis. During a study visit on the final day of each intervention period, participants consumed 100 g of the test bread for breakfast. Oral processing, gastric emptying, and postprandial glucose, C-peptide, appetite and hormonal responses were measured. The primary outcome was ad-libitum energy intake at the subsequent lunch. Ad-libitum energy intake at lunch did not differ after consumption of the test breads. WYB and WSYB were consumed more slowly than WSB and led to slightly higher satiety (p < 0.05). Compared to the other breads, WSYB led to higher C-peptide levels, WYB resulted in greater PYY responses, and both WSB and WYB stimulated higher GLP-1 release (p < 0.05). In contrast, gastric emptying, glucose responses, ad-libitum energy intake, habitual energy intake, cholesterol, or gut microbiota composition did not differ between breads (p > 0.05). Despite the small metabolic differences, our findings suggest that whole meal bread with baker's yeast and/or sourdough had similar effects on appetite regulation.
{"title":"Effect of whole meal yeast-leavened, sourdough-leavened and yeast-sourdough-leavened bread consumption on appetite, energy intake, and postprandial metabolic responses: A randomized, blinded, cross-over study.","authors":"Georgia Chatonidi, Riet Rosseel, Boushra Dalile, Dina Satriawan, Greet Vandermeulen, Bram Van Holm, Luke Comer, Piet Maes, Nadia Everaert, Christophe M Courtin, Kristin Verbeke","doi":"10.1016/j.appet.2025.108256","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.appet.2025.108256","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Bread is a major source of carbohydrates in Europe, and whole meal varieties may offer better metabolic responses and increased satiety than white bread. We compared the effects of three types of whole meal bread: whole meal yeast bread (WYB), whole meal sourdough bread (WSB), and whole meal sourdough and yeast bread (WSYB), on appetite regulation and metabolic outcomes in healthy subjects. The sourdough contained Fructilactobacillus sanfranciscensis and Maudiozyma humilis, and the process time depended on the leavening agent. In this double-blind, randomized crossover trial, 44 participants (25 ± 4 years, BMI: 22 ± 2 kg/m<sup>2</sup>) consumed 180g/day of each bread type for two weeks, separated by a 2-week washout period. Habitual food intake was reported and a fecal sample was collected for microbiota analysis. During a study visit on the final day of each intervention period, participants consumed 100 g of the test bread for breakfast. Oral processing, gastric emptying, and postprandial glucose, C-peptide, appetite and hormonal responses were measured. The primary outcome was ad-libitum energy intake at the subsequent lunch. Ad-libitum energy intake at lunch did not differ after consumption of the test breads. WYB and WSYB were consumed more slowly than WSB and led to slightly higher satiety (p < 0.05). Compared to the other breads, WSYB led to higher C-peptide levels, WYB resulted in greater PYY responses, and both WSB and WYB stimulated higher GLP-1 release (p < 0.05). In contrast, gastric emptying, glucose responses, ad-libitum energy intake, habitual energy intake, cholesterol, or gut microbiota composition did not differ between breads (p > 0.05). Despite the small metabolic differences, our findings suggest that whole meal bread with baker's yeast and/or sourdough had similar effects on appetite regulation.</p>","PeriodicalId":242,"journal":{"name":"Appetite","volume":" ","pages":"108256"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144797705","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-08-07DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2025.108260
Sandro Jenni, Maxim Trenkenschuh, Nicholas Poh-Jie Tan, Wiebke Bleidorn, Christopher J Hopwood
Plant-based meat alternatives (PBMAs) play a key role in the transition towards more sustainable food systems. Consumer research has so far primarily focused on how personal factors influence people's decisions for or against PBMAs. Yet dietary choices are socially embedded and subject to interpersonal influences. Among these, romantic partners may be particularly important for each other's PBMA consumption because of their close relationship and high rate of meal sharing. Partner's roles might be more pronounced if partners differ in their attachment to meat. Using a Swiss convenience sample of 136 couples who differed in their level of meat consumption, we examined how dietary motives were associated with personal and partner's PBMA consumption. Both partners reported on dietary motives and food consumption in a baseline survey and across 28 shared meals, which allowed us to test between- and within-person effects using dyadic modeling frameworks. Regarding personal effects, being more concerned about animals and the environment related positively, and endorsing common meat-eating beliefs negatively, with PBMA consumption. Having limited access to alternatives was a barrier to PBMA choice for individuals with lower meat consumption. Regarding interpersonal effects, partners were more likely to eat PBMAs at meals where the other person was more concerned about animals. Lower (but not higher) meat consuming individuals' beliefs that meat is natural, necessary, and nice were associated with less frequent PBMA consumption of their partners. This exploratory study highlights the value of taking an intra- and interpersonal perspective to research on, and the promotion of, meat substitution.
{"title":"Associations between romantic partners' dietary motives and their plant-based meat alternative consumption.","authors":"Sandro Jenni, Maxim Trenkenschuh, Nicholas Poh-Jie Tan, Wiebke Bleidorn, Christopher J Hopwood","doi":"10.1016/j.appet.2025.108260","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.appet.2025.108260","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Plant-based meat alternatives (PBMAs) play a key role in the transition towards more sustainable food systems. Consumer research has so far primarily focused on how personal factors influence people's decisions for or against PBMAs. Yet dietary choices are socially embedded and subject to interpersonal influences. Among these, romantic partners may be particularly important for each other's PBMA consumption because of their close relationship and high rate of meal sharing. Partner's roles might be more pronounced if partners differ in their attachment to meat. Using a Swiss convenience sample of 136 couples who differed in their level of meat consumption, we examined how dietary motives were associated with personal and partner's PBMA consumption. Both partners reported on dietary motives and food consumption in a baseline survey and across 28 shared meals, which allowed us to test between- and within-person effects using dyadic modeling frameworks. Regarding personal effects, being more concerned about animals and the environment related positively, and endorsing common meat-eating beliefs negatively, with PBMA consumption. Having limited access to alternatives was a barrier to PBMA choice for individuals with lower meat consumption. Regarding interpersonal effects, partners were more likely to eat PBMAs at meals where the other person was more concerned about animals. Lower (but not higher) meat consuming individuals' beliefs that meat is natural, necessary, and nice were associated with less frequent PBMA consumption of their partners. This exploratory study highlights the value of taking an intra- and interpersonal perspective to research on, and the promotion of, meat substitution.</p>","PeriodicalId":242,"journal":{"name":"Appetite","volume":" ","pages":"108260"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144811472","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Objectives: Childhood obesity is one of the major health challenges of the 21st century, a chronic and complicated condition that requires medical intervention. The goal of this study was to investigate the emotional eating levels of children with obesity as well as their mothers' alexithymia and cognitive flexibility, which we hypothesized to contribute to childhood obesity.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional, case-control study of age-, sex-, and ethnicity-matched 100 dyads. All mothers completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI), and the children completed the Emotional Eating Scale-Children (EES-C). In addition, researchers administered a clinical and sociodemographic questionnaire.
Results: The childhood obesity group exhibited significantly higher levels of emotional eating and maternal alexithymia, but also significantly lower levels of maternal cognitive flexibility compared to those in the healthy control group. Further analyses revealed a significant association between childhood obesity, maternal alexithymia, and irregular sleep patterns in children.
Conclusion: Our results indicate that elevated levels of alexithymia in mothers of children diagnosed with obesity may influence childhood obesity. The aims of early interventions in managing pediatric obesity may include evaluations of families and mothers.
{"title":"The relationship between maternal alexithymia and cognitive flexibility, children's emotional eating, and childhood obesity.","authors":"Pınar Aydoğan Avşar, Duygu Çalişkan, Merve Türkegün Şengül","doi":"10.1016/j.appet.2025.108258","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.appet.2025.108258","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Childhood obesity is one of the major health challenges of the 21st century, a chronic and complicated condition that requires medical intervention. The goal of this study was to investigate the emotional eating levels of children with obesity as well as their mothers' alexithymia and cognitive flexibility, which we hypothesized to contribute to childhood obesity.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This is a cross-sectional, case-control study of age-, sex-, and ethnicity-matched 100 dyads. All mothers completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and the Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI), and the children completed the Emotional Eating Scale-Children (EES-C). In addition, researchers administered a clinical and sociodemographic questionnaire.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The childhood obesity group exhibited significantly higher levels of emotional eating and maternal alexithymia, but also significantly lower levels of maternal cognitive flexibility compared to those in the healthy control group. Further analyses revealed a significant association between childhood obesity, maternal alexithymia, and irregular sleep patterns in children.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our results indicate that elevated levels of alexithymia in mothers of children diagnosed with obesity may influence childhood obesity. The aims of early interventions in managing pediatric obesity may include evaluations of families and mothers.</p>","PeriodicalId":242,"journal":{"name":"Appetite","volume":" ","pages":"108258"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144803035","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-08-05DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2025.108255
Elizabeth R Chamberlain, Lynda H Powell, Kelly Karavolos, Bryce T Daniels, Nicole Trabold, Caitlyn L Wilson, Jacinda M Nicklas, Kevin S Masters
Objective: The purpose of this paper is to measure the degree to which simple automatic habits assessed with the Self-Report Habit Index (SRHI) are associated with validated measures of complex behavioral risk factors in an at-risk population of those with metabolic syndrome (MetS).
Methods: At baseline (2019-2022), 618 participants from 5 US cities who met criteria for MetS to qualify for the ELM trial were administered a series of measures to assess 4 habits (1/2 plate of vegetables at meals, daily brisk walks, pause before reacting, and notice sensory experiences) and 5 behavioral risk factors the habits were intended to represent (vegetable intake, moderate intensity physical activity, daily steps, emotional regulation, and sensory awareness). Spearman's rho correlations between each habit measure and its concomitant behavioral risk factor were calculated to assess criterion validity, spillover to other related behavioral risk factors, and discriminant validity relative to the Perceived Stress Scale.
Results: Three of the four habits showed moderate correlations with their respective risk factors with ranges from r = 0.31 to r = 0.44 (all p < 0.001). The strongest association was an inverse correlation between the habit pause before reacting and perceived stress (r = -0.34, p < 0.001). The weakest associations were between the physical activity habit and accelerometer-assessed moderate intensity physical activity (r = 0.16) and daily steps (r = 0.18), both p < 0.001.
Conclusions: This study supports a correspondence between habits assessed by the SRHI and the more complex behavioral risk factors they are intended to represent. It justifies targeting simple habits in service of improving complex behavioral risk factors and managing clinical problems such as MetS.
{"title":"Association between self-reported behavioral habits and their respective behavioral risk factors in individuals with metabolic syndrome.","authors":"Elizabeth R Chamberlain, Lynda H Powell, Kelly Karavolos, Bryce T Daniels, Nicole Trabold, Caitlyn L Wilson, Jacinda M Nicklas, Kevin S Masters","doi":"10.1016/j.appet.2025.108255","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.appet.2025.108255","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>The purpose of this paper is to measure the degree to which simple automatic habits assessed with the Self-Report Habit Index (SRHI) are associated with validated measures of complex behavioral risk factors in an at-risk population of those with metabolic syndrome (MetS).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>At baseline (2019-2022), 618 participants from 5 US cities who met criteria for MetS to qualify for the ELM trial were administered a series of measures to assess 4 habits (1/2 plate of vegetables at meals, daily brisk walks, pause before reacting, and notice sensory experiences) and 5 behavioral risk factors the habits were intended to represent (vegetable intake, moderate intensity physical activity, daily steps, emotional regulation, and sensory awareness). Spearman's rho correlations between each habit measure and its concomitant behavioral risk factor were calculated to assess criterion validity, spillover to other related behavioral risk factors, and discriminant validity relative to the Perceived Stress Scale.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Three of the four habits showed moderate correlations with their respective risk factors with ranges from r = 0.31 to r = 0.44 (all p < 0.001). The strongest association was an inverse correlation between the habit pause before reacting and perceived stress (r = -0.34, p < 0.001). The weakest associations were between the physical activity habit and accelerometer-assessed moderate intensity physical activity (r = 0.16) and daily steps (r = 0.18), both p < 0.001.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study supports a correspondence between habits assessed by the SRHI and the more complex behavioral risk factors they are intended to represent. It justifies targeting simple habits in service of improving complex behavioral risk factors and managing clinical problems such as MetS.</p>","PeriodicalId":242,"journal":{"name":"Appetite","volume":" ","pages":"108255"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144774416","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-08-05DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2025.108233
Seth Ariel Green, Benny Smith, Maya B Mathur
Which interventions produce the largest and most enduring reductions in consumption of meat and animal products (MAP)? We address this question with a theoretical review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials that measured MAP consumption at least one day after intervention. We meta-analyze 35 papers comprising 41 studies, 112 interventions, and approximately 87,000 subjects. We find that these papers employ four major strategies to change behavior: choice architecture, persuasion, psychology (manipulating the interpersonal, cognitive, or affective factors associated with eating MAP), and a combination of persuasion and psychology. The pooled effect of all 112 interventions on MAP consumption is quite small (standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.07 (95 % CI: [0.02, 0.12]), indicating an unsolved problem. Interventions aiming to reduce only consumption of red and processed meat were more effective (SMD = 0.25; 95 % CI: [0.11, 0.38]), but it remains unclear whether such interventions also decrease consumption of other forms of MAP. We conclude that while existing approaches do not provide a proven remedy to MAP consumption, designs and measurement strategies have generally been improving over time, and many promising interventions await rigorous evaluation.
{"title":"Meaningfully reducing consumption of meat and animal products is an unsolved problem: A meta-analysis.","authors":"Seth Ariel Green, Benny Smith, Maya B Mathur","doi":"10.1016/j.appet.2025.108233","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.appet.2025.108233","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Which interventions produce the largest and most enduring reductions in consumption of meat and animal products (MAP)? We address this question with a theoretical review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials that measured MAP consumption at least one day after intervention. We meta-analyze 35 papers comprising 41 studies, 112 interventions, and approximately 87,000 subjects. We find that these papers employ four major strategies to change behavior: choice architecture, persuasion, psychology (manipulating the interpersonal, cognitive, or affective factors associated with eating MAP), and a combination of persuasion and psychology. The pooled effect of all 112 interventions on MAP consumption is quite small (standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.07 (95 % CI: [0.02, 0.12]), indicating an unsolved problem. Interventions aiming to reduce only consumption of red and processed meat were more effective (SMD = 0.25; 95 % CI: [0.11, 0.38]), but it remains unclear whether such interventions also decrease consumption of other forms of MAP. We conclude that while existing approaches do not provide a proven remedy to MAP consumption, designs and measurement strategies have generally been improving over time, and many promising interventions await rigorous evaluation.</p>","PeriodicalId":242,"journal":{"name":"Appetite","volume":" ","pages":"108233"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12376840/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144774418","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-30DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2025.108439
Chin Wei Chong , Fadi Abdelfattah , Wendy Ming Yen Teoh , Adedapo O. Ojo
This study explores the moral disengagement with its five sub-dimensions and investigate the influence of animal ethics and environmental concern on moral disengagement in the context of adoption of plant-based diet among Malaysian youth. A cross-sectional survey involving 341 students from ten Malaysian universities was conducted using a structured questionnaire based on established scales for animal ethics, environmental awareness, intention to adopt plant-based diet and the five dimensions of moral disengagement, i.e. means-ends justifications, desensitization, denial of negative consequences, diffused responsibility, and reduced perceived choice. The findings indicate relatively low ethical concern regarding animal ethics and low-to-moderate environmental awareness concerning meat consumption as well as intention to adopt a plant-based diet. Moral disengagement was indicated as moderate-to-high with means-ends justification reported as the highest dimension, followed by diffused responsibility and desensitization. Animal ethics and environmental concerns are negatively related with moral disengagement and there is a significant negative relationship between moral disengagement with the intention to adopt plant-based diet. By identifying the psychological barriers to dietary change, this study helps design more effective strategies to promote plant-based diets and sustainability, thereby contributing to ethical food consumption and environmental protection.
{"title":"Exploring moral disengagement in meat consumption among Malaysian youth – A cross-sectional study","authors":"Chin Wei Chong , Fadi Abdelfattah , Wendy Ming Yen Teoh , Adedapo O. Ojo","doi":"10.1016/j.appet.2025.108439","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.appet.2025.108439","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study explores the moral disengagement with its five sub-dimensions and investigate the influence of animal ethics and environmental concern on moral disengagement in the context of adoption of plant-based diet among Malaysian youth. A cross-sectional survey involving 341 students from ten Malaysian universities was conducted using a structured questionnaire based on established scales for animal ethics, environmental awareness, intention to adopt plant-based diet and the five dimensions of moral disengagement, i.e. means-ends justifications, desensitization, denial of negative consequences, diffused responsibility, and reduced perceived choice. The findings indicate relatively low ethical concern regarding animal ethics and low-to-moderate environmental awareness concerning meat consumption as well as intention to adopt a plant-based diet. Moral disengagement was indicated as moderate-to-high with means-ends justification reported as the highest dimension, followed by diffused responsibility and desensitization. Animal ethics and environmental concerns are negatively related with moral disengagement and there is a significant negative relationship between moral disengagement with the intention to adopt plant-based diet. By identifying the psychological barriers to dietary change, this study helps design more effective strategies to promote plant-based diets and sustainability, thereby contributing to ethical food consumption and environmental protection.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":242,"journal":{"name":"Appetite","volume":"220 ","pages":"Article 108439"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145882835","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-24DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2025.108438
Jonas Potthoff, Anne Schienle
Music can evoke both positive and negative moods, which may, in turn, differently affect the processing of food cues. This preregistered eye-tracking study investigated whether self-selected liked versus disliked music affects desire to eat, visual attention to foods of varying sugar content, and subsequent food choice in a buffet-like context. A total of 106 participants (mean age = 25 years; mean body mass index = 22 kg/m2) viewed a buffet with high-sugar foods, low-sugar alternatives, and non-foods while eye movements were recorded. Participants were randomly assigned to a liked music, disliked music, or no music condition. Self-reported desire to eat and food choice were assessed. Disliked music decreased general desire to eat but increased the specific desire to eat high-sugar food. Furthermore, it increased the likelihood of selecting high-sugar foods from the buffet. Liked music and no music were associated with a preference for low-sugar foods. Music did not significantly influence visual attention. Participants consistently looked longer at food than non-food items regardless of their music condition. These findings suggest that music can bias food-related decision-making independently of attentional processes: liked music may encourage healthier choices, whereas disliked music increases susceptibility to high-sugar comfort foods despite reduced general appetite. The results highlight the potential of music as a subtle, non-caloric intervention for promoting low-sugar eating behaviour. They also point towards risks of being exposed to disliked music in contexts in which food decisions are being made like in restaurants or supermarkets.
{"title":"Eye candy & eye tunes: Effects of liked vs. disliked music on desire to eat and food choice in an eye-tracking buffet paradigm","authors":"Jonas Potthoff, Anne Schienle","doi":"10.1016/j.appet.2025.108438","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.appet.2025.108438","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Music can evoke both positive and negative moods, which may, in turn, differently affect the processing of food cues. This preregistered eye-tracking study investigated whether self-selected liked versus disliked music affects desire to eat, visual attention to foods of varying sugar content, and subsequent food choice in a buffet-like context. A total of 106 participants (mean age = 25 years; mean body mass index = 22 kg/m<sup>2</sup>) viewed a buffet with high-sugar foods, low-sugar alternatives, and non-foods while eye movements were recorded. Participants were randomly assigned to a liked music, disliked music, or no music condition. Self-reported desire to eat and food choice were assessed. Disliked music decreased general desire to eat but increased the specific desire to eat high-sugar food. Furthermore, it increased the likelihood of selecting high-sugar foods from the buffet. Liked music and no music were associated with a preference for low-sugar foods. Music did not significantly influence visual attention. Participants consistently looked longer at food than non-food items regardless of their music condition. These findings suggest that music can bias food-related decision-making independently of attentional processes: liked music may encourage healthier choices, whereas disliked music increases susceptibility to high-sugar comfort foods despite reduced general appetite. The results highlight the potential of music as a subtle, non-caloric intervention for promoting low-sugar eating behaviour. They also point towards risks of being exposed to disliked music in contexts in which food decisions are being made like in restaurants or supermarkets.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":242,"journal":{"name":"Appetite","volume":"220 ","pages":"Article 108438"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145843418","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-23DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2025.108437
Kayla B. Hollett , Alexandre J.S. Morin , Emily Carrese-Chacra , Tamara R. Cohen , Noémie Carbonneau , Marianne M. Berthiaume , Emma Felice , Jean-Philippe Gouin
Socioecological models of health view romantic relationships as micro-social systems in which spouses influence one another's health-related thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Although prior work suggests spousal interdependence in eating behaviors, the degree of interdependence may vary as a function of the specific eating behaviors studied. In this longitudinal dyadic study, 204 cohabiting couples (N = 408 spouses) including a member living with overweight completed online questionnaires and provided BMI data at three separate time points spanning a total period of three months. Longitudinal cross-lagged actor-partner dyadic models were used to examine spousal interdependence in overeating, restrained eating, and body mass index (BMI) as well as potential moderators linked to a couple's relational context (i.e., gender, age, relationship length, and time spent in separate leisure activities). Results revealed participants' overeating scores were positively predicted by their spouse's overeating scores, particularly among those who reported spending more time in joint leisure activities and among older participants (this effect emerged around 40 years of age and increased thereafter). Conversely, participants' overeating scores were negatively predicted by their spouse's BMIs. With respect to restrained eating, the significance and directionality of the partner effects depended on relational stage, where participants' scores were positively predicted by their spouse's scores in relationships of up to five years and negatively predicted by their spouse's scores in relationships of 35 years or more. No significant partner effects predicted BMI. These results reveal effects indicative of spousal interdependence related to different eating behaviors and BMI and highlight aspects of the relational context that modify such interdependence.
{"title":"Dyadic associations between eating behaviors and body mass index in couples with a member living with overweight: A longitudinal study","authors":"Kayla B. Hollett , Alexandre J.S. Morin , Emily Carrese-Chacra , Tamara R. Cohen , Noémie Carbonneau , Marianne M. Berthiaume , Emma Felice , Jean-Philippe Gouin","doi":"10.1016/j.appet.2025.108437","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.appet.2025.108437","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Socioecological models of health view romantic relationships as micro-social systems in which spouses influence one another's health-related thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Although prior work suggests spousal interdependence in eating behaviors, the degree of interdependence may vary as a function of the specific eating behaviors studied. In this longitudinal dyadic study, 204 cohabiting couples (<em>N</em> = 408 spouses) including a member living with overweight completed online questionnaires and provided BMI data at three separate time points spanning a total period of three months. Longitudinal cross-lagged actor-partner dyadic models were used to examine spousal interdependence in overeating, restrained eating, and body mass index (BMI) as well as potential moderators linked to a couple's relational context (i.e., gender, age, relationship length, and time spent in separate leisure activities). Results revealed participants' overeating scores were positively predicted by their spouse's overeating scores, particularly among those who reported spending more time in joint leisure activities and among older participants (this effect emerged around 40 years of age and increased thereafter). Conversely, participants' overeating scores were negatively predicted by their spouse's BMIs. With respect to restrained eating, the significance and directionality of the partner effects depended on relational stage, where participants' scores were positively predicted by their spouse's scores in relationships of up to five years and negatively predicted by their spouse's scores in relationships of 35 years or more. No significant partner effects predicted BMI. These results reveal effects indicative of spousal interdependence related to different eating behaviors and BMI and highlight aspects of the relational context that modify such interdependence.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":242,"journal":{"name":"Appetite","volume":"220 ","pages":"Article 108437"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145831872","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-23DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2025.108425
Reah Chiong , Julia Kohn , Julio Salas , Emily St John , Katherine Baker , Ruyu Liu , Ibukun Owoputi , Marlen Z. Gonzalez , Roger Figueroa
This qualitative study examined the lived experiences of food among food assistance beneficiaries in New York, United States to conceptualize potential determinants of nutrition security, an emerging term that expands on food insecurity by emphasizing access to nutritious food that promotes well-being. Through interviews (n = 26) and a grounded theory approach, four themes were identified under one central theme: implementing strategies (e.g. compromising with household members, utilizing sales and discounts, meal prepping) across different stages of food work, or the tasks and labor associated with eating, may play a role in nutrition security attainment. Furthermore, the types of strategies employed to obtain nutrition security changes and are dynamically influenced by social and material capital, the food environment, and life history. This study builds on developing nutrition security frameworks and measures by highlighting the role of food-related strategies and social support in alleviating challenges with food work among adults who qualify for or receive food assistance benefits.
{"title":"The role of food-related strategies and social support: A qualitative study on the lived experiences with food among income-eligible food assistance beneficiaries","authors":"Reah Chiong , Julia Kohn , Julio Salas , Emily St John , Katherine Baker , Ruyu Liu , Ibukun Owoputi , Marlen Z. Gonzalez , Roger Figueroa","doi":"10.1016/j.appet.2025.108425","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.appet.2025.108425","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This qualitative study examined the lived experiences of food among food assistance beneficiaries in New York, United States to conceptualize potential determinants of nutrition security, an emerging term that expands on food insecurity by emphasizing access to nutritious food that promotes well-being. Through interviews (n = 26) and a grounded theory approach, four themes were identified under one central theme: implementing strategies (e.g. compromising with household members, utilizing sales and discounts, meal prepping) across different stages of food work, or the tasks and labor associated with eating, may play a role in nutrition security attainment. Furthermore, the types of strategies employed to obtain nutrition security changes and are dynamically influenced by social and material capital, the food environment, and life history. This study builds on developing nutrition security frameworks and measures by highlighting the role of food-related strategies and social support in alleviating challenges with food work among adults who qualify for or receive food assistance benefits.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":242,"journal":{"name":"Appetite","volume":"220 ","pages":"Article 108425"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145831858","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}