Investigating the effect of smartphone-based cognitive training completed at home on sustained changes in appetite and food cravings: A randomised controlled trial

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Obesity; Diet and Nutrition - Obesity; Public Health - Health promotion/education; Overweight

• Registration Number: ACTRN12622001502729
• Lead Sponsor: Queensland University of Technology

Brief Summary

1. Research Question: Is cognitive training delivered by smartphone a useful tool to control cravings and appetite for energy-dense foods for adults with overweight/obesity or high food responsiveness? A randomised-controlled trial. 2. Background information: Currently, there are mixed findings to support the efficacy of cognitive training strategies for appetite control and weight management. This can partly be explained by differences in methodologies and intervention implementation. 3. Participants were either overweight/obese (self-reported) or highly food responsive as measured by questionnaire. 4. Key results: Participants in both the intervention and control group experienced significant reductions in all primary outcomes from baseline to post-training. All outcomes remained significantly different from baseline 1-week after training was completed.There were no differences between groups. However, Explicit liking for energy-dense foods increased over the 1 week period after training was completed, but not implicit wanting. 5.Limitations: No measure of food intake was included. Attrition over the follow-up period meant analyses with this time point may not be adequately powered. Differential attrition rates were observed between groups.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Results First Posted: 1900-01-01
• Study Completion: 2021-09-30
• Study Start: 2022-12-01
• Last Update Posted: 5 December 2022

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 84

Inclusion Criteria

Respondents were included if they were aged between 17 and 70 years; resided in Australia; had access to a smartphone and computer with internet access; had access to a weighing scale and a tape measure (to measure anthropometrics); and could be considered overweight/obese as assessed by their BMI (> 25) OR highly food cue responsive as assessed by the Adult Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (Hunot et al., 2016).

Exclusion Criteria

Participants were excluded if they were ever diagnosed with an eating disorder; were currently part of a weight loss programme or actively trying to lose weight; were currently taking any prescription or recreational drugs that affect appetite; or currently smoking 5 or more cigarettes per day; or experienced any significant weight changes within the last 3 months (i.e., greater than 10% of their body weight).

Study & Design

• Study Type: Interventional
• Study Design: Not specified