Negative affect influences the computations underlying food choice in bulimia nervosa.
ElifeOct 1, 2026 (epub)
Blair R K Shevlin, Loren Gianini, Joanna Steinglass et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
In 30 seconds
This randomized controlled trial examined how negative affect influences food choice dynamics in 25 women with bulimia nervosa (BN) and 21 healthy controls. The study found that after negative affect induction, individuals with BN showed a stronger bias towards tastiness over healthiness in food choices, which predicted more frequent binge episodes over three months.
Key findings
- Individuals with BN considered tastiness relative to healthiness of high-fat foods sooner than healthy controls in neutral affect.
- After negative affect induction, both groups prioritized tastiness over healthiness, with BN individuals showing an exaggerated bias.
- The affect-induced bias for high-fat foods predicted more frequent subjective binge episodes over three months.
Why it matters
Understanding the interplay between negative emotions and food choice can help clinicians develop targeted interventions for individuals with bulimia nervosa, potentially reducing binge eating episodes linked to emotional states.