A failure of food-specific inhibitory control training to affect food choices via a hypothetical food delivery platform

Burton, S ORCID: 0000-0003-3823-3275, Finlay, A and Jones, A ORCID: 0000-0001-5951-889X (2026) A failure of food-specific inhibitory control training to affect food choices via a hypothetical food delivery platform. Appetite, 229. p. 108805. ISSN 0195-6663

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Abstract

Inhibitory control training (ICT) is a computerised intervention which requires individuals to repeatedly inhibit a pre-potent motor response to unhealthy food-related cues. In doing so the cues are devalued, which may in turn reduce the choice and/or consumption behaviour towards unhealthy foods. Whilst single-session laboratory evidence suggests ICT may be a promising intervention, online studies show equivocal results. In this pre-registered randomised controlled trial, we administered ICT online (vs a control group) to 512 individuals (47.6% female, mean age = 41.68). Immediately following training participants were asked to make a hypothetical food order from a mock pizza delivery website based on a popular UK chain. Devaluation of pizza, salad, and unhealthy but untrained images was also measured pre- and post-training. Our results demonstrated that ICT (mean = 1270 kcal) did not lead to fewer calories ordered vs the control group (mean = 1287 kcal: t(503.74) = 0.381, p = .703, d = 0.03 [95% CI: −0.14 to 0.21]: BF10 = 0.105), or fewer number of individuals ordering pizza-dishes (X2(1) = 1.93, p = .165; OR = 0.72 [95% CI: 0.47 to 1.11]: BF10 = 0.272). Overall, the findings of this study suggest ICT delivered online is unlikely to be an effective stand-alone intervention for changing food-ordering behaviours, however replication with real world outcomes is necessary.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Nutrition & Dietetics
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology T Technology > TX Home economics > TX341 Nutrition. Foods and food supply T Technology > T Technology (General)
Divisions:	Psychology (from Sep 2019)
Publisher:	Elsevier
Date of acceptance:	18 October 2026
Date of first compliant Open Access:	23 October 2026
Date Deposited:	23 Oct 2026 10:00
Last Modified:	23 Oct 2026 10:00
DOI or ID number:	10.1016/j.appet.2026.108805
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/29734

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