Article (Scientific journals)
Heart rate variability biofeedback reduces food cravings in high food cravers
Meule, Adrian; Freund, Rebecca; Skirde, Ann Kathrin et al.
2012In Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 37 (4), p. 241-251
Peer reviewed
 

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Abstract :
[en] Heart rate variability (HRV) biofeedback has been reported to increase HRV while decreasing symptoms in patients with mental disorders. In addition, associations between low HRV and lowered self-regulation were found in non-clinical samples, e.g., in individuals with strong chocolate cravings or unsuccessful dieting. The current study aimed at decreasing food cravings with HRV-biofeedback in individuals frequently experiencing such cravings. Participants (N = 56) with strong or low food cravings associated with a lack of control over eating were selected from the local community. Half of the participants with strong cravings (craving-biofeedback; n = 14) performed 12 sessions of HRV-biofeedback while the other half (craving-control; n = 14) and a group with low cravings (non-craving-control; n = 28) received no intervention. Subjective food cravings related to a lack of control over eating decreased from pre- to post-measurement in the craving-biofeedback group, but remained constant in the control groups. Moreover, only the craving-biofeedback group showed a decrease in eating and weight concerns. Although HRV-biofeedback was successful in reducing food cravings, this change was not accompanied by an increase in HRV. Instead, HRV decreased in the craving-control group. This study provides preliminary evidence that HRV-biofeedback could be beneficial for attenuating dysfunctional eating behavior although specific mechanisms remain to be elucidated.
Disciplines :
Neurosciences & behavior
Psychiatry
Treatment & clinical psychology
Theoretical & cognitive psychology
Animal psychology, ethology & psychobiology
Identifiers :
UNILU:UL-ARTICLE-2012-624
Author, co-author :
Meule, Adrian;  University of Würzburg, Germany
Freund, Rebecca;  University of Würzburg, Germany
Skirde, Ann Kathrin;  University of Würzburg, Germany
Vögele, Claus ;  University of Luxembourg > Faculty of Language and Literature, Humanities, Arts and Education (FLSHASE) > Integrative Research Unit: Social and Individual Development (INSIDE)
Kübler, Andrea;  University of Würzburg, Germany
Language :
English
Title :
Heart rate variability biofeedback reduces food cravings in high food cravers
Publication date :
2012
Journal title :
Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback
ISSN :
1090-0586
Publisher :
Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, New York, United States - New York
Volume :
37
Issue :
4
Pages :
241-251
Peer reviewed :
Peer reviewed
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