Training self-regulation to promote healthy eating: Evidence from a longitudinal intervention study

TY - JOUR

T1 - Training self-regulation to promote healthy eating

T2 - Evidence from a longitudinal intervention study

AU - Lopez, Richard B.

AU - Werner, Kaitlyn M.

AU - Traub, Gabriel

AU - Saunders, Blair

AU - Cosme, Danielle

AU - Hofmann, Wilhelm

PY - 2025/9/16

Y1 - 2025/9/16

N2 - Previous theorizing suggests that self-regulatory strategies in the appetitive domain may be variably effective, but few studies have directly examined the causal impact these strategies may have in altering daily eating behaviors. Participants (N = 360) were trained to use one of two classes of regulatory strategies—situation-based strategies or cognitive reappraisal—and were instructed to apply these strategies to either healthy or unhealthy foods. All participants’ eating behaviors were assessed longitudinally: during the first two weeks post-training (short-term effects) and up to two months later (long-term effects). Results partly supported preregistered hypotheses, indicating that training in either strategy (vs. no training) was generally effective in promoting healthy eating—as indexed by greater craving for healthy foods, more resistance to unhealthy foods, and less consumption of unhealthy foods. There were also transfer effects, with training targeting healthy foods leading to greater resistance to unhealthy foods over time, while training targeting unhealthy foods resulted in stronger craving and consumption of healthy foods. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of both situational strategies and cognitive reappraisal for influencing healthier eating, highlighting the potential for both immediate and lasting benefits, as well as unexpected transfer effects.

AB - Previous theorizing suggests that self-regulatory strategies in the appetitive domain may be variably effective, but few studies have directly examined the causal impact these strategies may have in altering daily eating behaviors. Participants (N = 360) were trained to use one of two classes of regulatory strategies—situation-based strategies or cognitive reappraisal—and were instructed to apply these strategies to either healthy or unhealthy foods. All participants’ eating behaviors were assessed longitudinally: during the first two weeks post-training (short-term effects) and up to two months later (long-term effects). Results partly supported preregistered hypotheses, indicating that training in either strategy (vs. no training) was generally effective in promoting healthy eating—as indexed by greater craving for healthy foods, more resistance to unhealthy foods, and less consumption of unhealthy foods. There were also transfer effects, with training targeting healthy foods leading to greater resistance to unhealthy foods over time, while training targeting unhealthy foods resulted in stronger craving and consumption of healthy foods. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of both situational strategies and cognitive reappraisal for influencing healthier eating, highlighting the potential for both immediate and lasting benefits, as well as unexpected transfer effects.

KW - Self-regulation

KW - strategies

KW - goal pursuit

KW - training

KW - eating behaviors

U2 - 10.1016/j.appet.2025.108310

DO - 10.1016/j.appet.2025.108310

M3 - Article

SN - 0195-6663

VL - 216

JO - Appetite

JF - Appetite

IS - 1

M1 - 108310

ER -