Stimulus control and affect in dietary behaviours: Results from two intensive longitudinal studies

Dietary behaviours are substantially influenced by environmental stimuli, such as mood, and social situation. Laboratory studies suggests differences in people's response to eating cues based on BMI. Here we explore BMI differences in cue responsiveness with everyday snacking behaviour. In two combined ecological momentary assessment studies, 122 participants with BMIs ranging from 18.34 to 45.71 kg/m2 logged their everyday snacking behaviour in real-time over two weeks along with the presence or absence of social cues. GPS data was also recorded. Random-effects modelling showed that people with higher BMI were more likely to consume high-energy snacks when alone, and were more likely to consume low-energy snacks in the presence of others eating. This suggests BMI differences in cue responsiveness that are in line with impression management theory and underlines the importance of social cues for snacking behaviour and provides avenues for intervention development.