Pre- and Post-restriction Chocolate Candy Consumption
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About
Craving differs from hunger because it occurs even when a person is in a satiated state and in the absence of an energy deficit. Craving is usually triggered by specific foods and may be attributable to certain sensory properties of foods. Foods that are craved are often regarded as less healthy choices, and are higher in energy content. Chocolate is one of the most commonly reported foods craved by people in this country. Together, craving for chocolate has been suggested to be a possible cause of weight gain and access to chocolate therefore needs to be restricted.
However, it remains unknown if restriction may induce maladaptive eating behaviors of chocolate cravers. The anticipation of going on a diet has been shown to cause restrained and disinhibited eaters to react by consuming more chocolate. In this study, we will examine if this response is also found in chocolate cravers when they are asked to undergo three weeks of chocolate restriction. This study will also examine chocolate cravers' response after the chocolate restriction is lifted. We hypothesize that chocolate consumption of cravers will increase both before and after chocolate restriction is imposed. We also hypothesize that chocolate craving is specific to the food rather than its sweet taste, and that chocolate cravers are less willing to substitute chocolate for salty snacks, natural snacks, and sweet non-chocolate snacks during the restriction.
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Inclusion criteria
Sixty adult participants (age 18-60 years) who are regular chocolate candy eaters (> 4 times/week, at least 1 serving each time) are needed to complete this study. Additional eligible criteria include:
- Subjects high and low in restraint/disinhibition based on TFEQ
- BMI between 18-35
- American born, or have lived in United States for majority of life, as different cultures have been shown to have lower chocolate preferences and consumption.
- Snack on a regular basis
- No allergies to test foods
- Not taking medications that affect appetite or metabolism
- Willing to comply to study protocol and to eat test meals
- Consume chocolate, or chocolate candies more than 4 times per week
Exclusion criteria
- If a participant does not fit the above requirements, they will be excluded from participating in the study.
Trial design
Primary purpose
Allocation
Interventional model
Masking
50 participants in 6 patient groups
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Data sourced from clinicaltrials.gov
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