Psychological mechanisms contributing to alcohol-induced increases in energy intake



Gough, Tom
(2021) Psychological mechanisms contributing to alcohol-induced increases in energy intake. Doctor of Philosophy thesis, University of Liverpool.

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Abstract

Consumption of alcohol is a significant risk factor for undesirable weight. Previous investigations have demonstrated that acute alcohol consumption reliably increases caloric intake relative to consumption of an alcohol-free comparator, however a complete understanding of the mechanisms contributing to this effect is lacking. Therefore, this thesis investigated the psychological mechanisms underpinning alcohol consumption’s effects on eating behaviour. Specifically, it investigated the role of alcohol-induced changes to cognitive control of eating as well as food reward. The thesis also explored whether alcohol-induced changes to food intake and BMI can be explained by a dual-process account of appetite control - an interaction of top-down and bottom-up processes. Chapter 3 (Studies 1 and 2) investigated whether acute alcohol consumption can impair recall of memories related to a recently consumed meal and whether this affects subsequent food intake. Findings revealed that acute alcohol consumption prior to a lunch meal impaired meal memory recall relative to an alcohol-free drink in Study 2 but not in Study 1. Both studies failed to provide evidence that meal memory recall affects subsequent food intake. Chapter 4 (Studies 3 and 4) investigated whether acute alcohol consumption can enhance food reward, relative to a placebo-alcohol. Study 3 found that an alcohol dose of 0.3 g/kg (grams of alcohol per kilogram of bodyweight) did not enhance food reward (measured using self-report scales and an attentional bias task) or increase food intake. However, Study 4 showed that a dose of 0.6 g/kg, acute alcohol consumption enhanced food reward and food intake relative to the placebo. Contrary to predictions of the dual-process account, the interaction between trait motor impulsivity and change in food-related attentional bias between drink conditions did not significantly predict change in food intake. Finally, Chapter 5 (Study 5) examined whether change in BMI over a 12-month period is predicted by change in drinking behaviour, and whether trait motor impulsivity moderates this effect. Findings did not support these predictions. Overall, the findings of this thesis demonstrate that acute alcohol consumption does affect important cognitive factors implicated in appetite control, however there is no evidence to suggest that this contributes to alcohol-induced increase in food intake. Results also indicate that alcohol-induced enhanced food reward and increases in food intake may be dose-dependent, whereby lower doses of iv alcohol may be insufficient at increasing food intake. The dual-process model of eating behaviour did not appear to explain alcohol-induced change to food intake or BMI in these studies. Further research regarding the importance of cognitive and reward-based mechanisms within the context of alcohol-induced food intake and BMI is now warranted.

Item Type: Thesis (Doctor of Philosophy)
Divisions: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 28 Apr 2021 15:41
Last Modified: 18 Jan 2023 22:51
DOI: 10.17638/03119922
Supervisors:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3119922