Schyns G, et al. – This study was designed not only to explore whether two sessions of food cue exposure therapy reduced eating in the absence of hunger (EAH), specified for exposed and non-exposed food, in overweight and obese adolescents but also to determine whether habituation of food cue reactivity and reduced CS-US expectancies predicted a decrease in EAH. Data reported that food cue exposure was effective to lessen EAH of exposed and non-exposed food items, showing generalisability of the exposure effect. Habituation of cue reactivity was not associated with less EAH. In addition, CS-US expectancy violation was unrelated to EAH.

Methods

• For the purpose of this study, forty-one overweight adolescents (aged 12–18 years) were randomly assigned to a cue exposure intervention or a lifestyle intervention (control condition).
• After that, habituation of food cue reactivity (self-reported desire to eat and salivation) and CS-US expectancy were measured during both sessions.
• Finally, EAH was measured at the end of session two.

Results

• The cue exposure condition demonstrated less EAH for the exposed food item as well as for the non-exposed food items compared to the control condition.
• Findings revealed that larger within-session (WSH) and between-session habituation (BSH) of cue reactivity were not related to less EAH, change in CS-US expectancy was unrelated to EAH.