The Power of Food: Self-control moderates the association of hedonic hunger with overeating, snacking frequency and palatable food intake

Abstract The purpose of the study was to explore whether self-control moderates the associations between hedonic hunger and overeating frequency, snacking frequency and palatable food intake. Data from the first wave of the Swiss Food Panel 2.0 study was analyzed (N = 4774), from the German- and French-speaking part of Switzerland (52% men). Measures included hedonic hunger assessed with the Power of Food Scale (PFS), the short form Self-Control Scale, overeating frequency, snacking frequency, intake of high-fat salty snack foods, and intake of high-sugar foods assessed with a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire. Higher scores on the PFS and lower self-control capacities were correlated with higher intakes of both high-fat salty snack foods and high-sugar foods (referred to here as palatable foods), higher overeating frequency and higher snacking frequency. Four separate moderation analyses revealed that the positive associations of hedonic hunger with overeating frequency, snacking frequency and palatable food intake were significantly attenuated by self-control. Results of the present study indicate that people who are highly sensitive to the ready availability of palatable foods but also have high levels of self-control exhibit less frequent overeating and snacking, including less frequent intake of unhealthy palatable foods, than those low in self-control. Consequently, self-control may prevent overeating and thus may serve as a protective factor that decreases the risk of becoming overweight in individuals who are highly sensitive to the food environment.