Appetitive traits and success in tier 3 weight management services
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Do appetitive traits impact success in tier 3 weight management services?
IRAS ID
304296
Contact name
Stacey Boardman
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The Univeristy of Leeds
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 2 months, 1 days
Research summary
Many people in England struggle to manage their weight and live with overweight and obesity. There are four levels of weight management services and the type of support in each becomes higher as you move up the levels. Tier 3 services help people to manage their weight by providing support tailored to the person, such as giving advice about food and exercise, as well as psychological support. However, it is unknown what factors mean it is likely someone will lose weight in a tier 3 service.
Appetitive traits are traits that can influence the way we behave around, and react to, food. For example, how quickly we feel full up and stop eating, or how much we eat when we experience emotions such as sadness, anxiety, or happiness. Different people have high, low, or somewhere in between traits. This is thought to be because these traits are influenced, at least in part, by our genetics.
Food approach traits are related to a larger, more fervent appetite and higher interest in food. Therefore, people with high food approach traits may consume more food and subsequently have a higher body weight. Food avoidance traits contribute to a smaller appetite and lower interest in food. These traits may lead to less consumption of food and lower body weight.
Appetitive traits can be measured using a questionnaire and research has found that there are links between specific traits and weight in children and adults; the Adult Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (AEBQ) is a validated self-report measure appetitive traits. No study has used the questionnaire to explore what the appetitive traits of people using tier 3 services are nor how appetitive traits may influence weight management: this study will explore these relationships.
REC name
London - Fulham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/HRA/5464
Date of REC Opinion
14 Feb 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion