Self-Control at Meals in Order Not to Gain Weight and Its Relationship with Food Cravings in Low-Carb Dieters

Aims: This study’s objective was to verify the level of food cravings and cognitive restraint in women who reported having followed a low-carb diet. Methods: The volunteers filled out the binge eating scale, the cognitive restraint subscale, the food cravings trait and state questionnaires, and the food frequency questionnaire. This study has also compared participants according to the self-reported practice of a low-carb diet. Parametric tests were used to compare the groups and Pearson’s correlations between some variables of interest (p > 0.05 adopted). Results: According to the question regarding the practice of the low-carb diet, 39 participants had tried a low-carb diet in the last six months (46.2% of these with binge eating) and 48 did not (16.7% with binge eating). Dieters showed higher levels of binge eating, cognitive restriction, and food cravings (trait and state). Dieters consumed less rice and bread but did not present lower consumption of sweets. Correlations showed that for dieters who ‘Consciously hold back at meals in order not to gain weight’, it was negatively associated with ‘Intention and plans to eat’, ‘positive reinforcement’ and ‘relieving negative states’ and food cravings scores. Conclusions: Despite the higher levels of cognitive restriction in dieters, they are negatively correlated with food craving factors and negatively associated with the consumption of sweets.

Inducing low energy availability in trained endurance male athletes results in poorer explosive power

Purpose Low energy availability in males needs more original research to understand its health and performance consequences. The aim of the study was to induce low energy availability in previously healthy male endurance athletes by reducing energy availability by 25% for 14 consecutive days and measure any potential changes in performance, health, mental state or energy markers. Methods Energy availability was reduced in 12 trained, well-trained and elite endurance athletes by increasing energy expenditure and controlling energy intake. After intervention, health was assessed by blood draw, body composition was measured, energy markers by measuring resting energy expenditure, performance with three specific tests (measuring endurance, agility and explosive power) and two questionnaires were used for psychological assessment (the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire and Well-being questionnaire). Results Reduced energy availability (22.4 ± 6.3 kcal/kg FFM/day) caused significantly lower haemoglobin values (t(12) = 2.652, p = 0.022), there was a tendency for lower iron and IGF-1 (p = 0.066 and p = 0.077, respectively). Explosive power was reduced (t(12) = 4.570, p = 0.001), lactate metabolism was altered and athletes reported poorer well-being (t(12) = 2.385, p = 0.036). Cognitive restriction was correlated with energy availability (r = 0.528, p = 0.039). Conclusion This is the first research providing direct evidence that suboptimal energy availability negatively impacts explosive power before hormonal changes occur in male endurance athletes. It is also the first to show direct association of low energy availability and higher cognitive restriction. We also observed worse well-being and lower haemoglobin values. 25% of energy availability reduction as not enough to elicit changes in resting energy expenditure.

Measuring Energy Availability and Energy Conservation in Endurance Athletes in the Pre-Race Period

Background: Low energy availability in male athletes has gained a lot of attention in the last years, but direct evidence of its effects on health and performance is lacking. Aim of this research was to objectively measure energy availability (EA) in healthy male endurance athletes without pre-existing relative energy deficiency signs during pre-race season. Methods: 12 trained endurance athletes (performance level 3, 4 and 5) participated in the cross-sectional controlled laboratory study. Fat free mass, exercise energy expenditure and energy intake were measured to calculate EA. Resting energy expenditure was measured and estimated to assess energy conservation. Three specific performance tests were used to assess endurance, agility and explosive strength performance. For psychological evaluation, the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire and a short Well-being questionnaire were completed.Results: Mean EA was 29.5 kcal/kg FFM/day. The majority (66.6%) had EA under the threshold for low EA in females. Critical cognitive restriction (≥13) was reported by 75% of participants. There were no differences in performance, blood values or psychological evaluation when subjects were divided into two groups divided by EA=30kcal/kg FFM/day. Cognitive restriction was negatively associated with measured resting energy expenditure and energy conservation (r=-.578, p=.025 and r=-.549, p=.032, respectively).Conclusions: The mean EA measured in this study supports the theory that the threshold for low EA in endurance male athletes might be under the threshold for females. In addition, we confirmed cognitive restriction could be useful for early detection of energy conservation. The high cognitive restriction as measured in our sample stressed the need of eating behavior screening in endurance athletes in order to reduce risk of any disordered eating patterns.

Evaluation of nutritional behaviour related to COVID-19

Objective: It is known that social isolation process has an impact on individuals’ eating behaviours. Continuing nutritional behaviour resulting from emotional eating, uncontrolled eating and cognitive restriction may turn into eating disorders in the future. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the possible effects of Corona Virus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and social isolation process on individuals’ nutritional behaviours and body weight changes. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Nutritional behaviours of the participants before the COVID-19 pandemic and in the social isolation process were evaluated with the Three Factor Nutrition Questionnaire. The changes in individuals’ body weight during this period were also evaluated. Participants: A total of 1036 volunteer individuals (827 women, 209 men) aged 18 years and over participated in the study. Results: During the COVID-19 pandemic and social isolation process, there was an increase in emotional eating and uncontrolled eating behaviours of individuals, but no significant change in cognitive restriction behaviour occurred (P = <0·00; P = <0·00 and P = 0·53, respectively). It was reported that the body weight of 35 % of the individuals who participated in the study increased during this period. Conclusion: Social isolation process practiced as a result of COVID-19 pandemic may lead to changes in some nutritional behaviours. Some precautions should be taken to prevent this situation that occurs in nutritional behaviours from causing negative health problems in the future.

Using Red Font Influences the Emotional Perception of Critical Performance Feedback

The color red has been shown to affect psychological functioning. In performance settings, it is associated with negative emotions, avoidance motivation, and cognitive restriction. Because red is frequently used in written performance feedback, we examined whether it represents an external form aspect that can adversely influence the perception of critical feedback by the receiver, independent of the verbal content of the feedback. To this end, we conducted a web-based experiment in which 171 participants performed an alleged attention test and were then given moderately critical feedback, including hints for improvement. Per random assignment, either some of the words within the feedback were presented in red letters or all words were presented in standard black. The participants’ subsequent evaluation of the feedback revealed that using red in the feedback caused the feedback to be perceived as relatively less emotionally positive. There was no direct effect of using a red font in how the feedback was cognitively perceived (i.e., how helpful, fair, or comprehensible it was). However, preliminary evidence suggests that using a red font indirectly had an adverse effect on the cognitive feedback perception, mediated via the emotional feedback perception. As a practical implication, red should be used cautiously in critical feedback in order to avoid compromising the functions of feedback.

Positive and Negative Symptoms and the Thematic Organisation of Schizophrenic Speech

SummaryThis study questions the prevailing view that schizophrenic delusions, hallucinations and incoherence of speech (positive symptoms) reflect loss of cognitive control and that flattening of affect and poverty of speech (negative symptoms) reflect restriction of cognitive processing.The prevailing view was examined by analysing the thematic organisation of speech produced by 18 patients describing pictures. Results showed that (a) positive and negative symptom schizophrenics did not differ in the control and restriction of thematic speech organisation; (b) speech disordered schizophrenics, positive as well as negative, showed cognitive restriction, by producing fewer inferential ideas than non-speech disordered schizophrenics.The wider implications of these results are discussed, particularly the implications of (b) for the notion of concreteness in schizophrenia.