Deficits in the impulse control system are an important predictor of energy intake and body weight. Adults classified as overweight to obese may possess these deficits as a general behavioral trait or they may be food-specific. The present study assessed motor impulsivity (ability to suppress a pre-potent response) when presented with food and neutral (non-food) cues, testing if deficits in motor impulsivity is specific to food cues or a general trait among participants classified as overweight to obese. The proportion of inhibitory failures to no-go targets following food cues (10.8%) was significantly greater than the proportion of inhibitory failures to no-go targets following neutral cues (1.9%, p < 0.001). These differences remained when covering for sex and hunger. This indicates deficits in food-specific impulse control (as opposed to general impulse control) are present in those classified as overweight to obese. Understanding the specific aspect of impulse control that is present in this population is needed for the development of future impulse control training interventions that seek to change eating behaviors as a means for weight control.
Keywords: Food cues; Go/NoGo task; Impulse control; Impulsivity; Inhibitory control; Obesity; Response inhibition.
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