Abstract
Future personalized approaches to weight management are likely to include consideration of genetic influences on eating behaviors. This study explores whether genetic beliefs about eating behaviors influence dietary self-efficacy and confidence. In a survey of 261 individuals of various weight statuses, we find that endorsing genetic causes of two specific eating behaviors (taste preference and disinhibition) predicts poorer dietary self-efficacy for people who exhibit these eating behaviors. This suggests there may be utility to considering eating behaviors individually when it comes to predicting the influence of genetic information provision in the service of precision medicine interventions. Individuals with high disinhibited eating and/or bitter taster status may be particularly sensitive to interpreting genetic predisposition information in ways that undercut self-efficacy and confidence.
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Notes
Participants were asked about genetic causes of taste preferences in general, not bitter taste preferences specifically.
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This project was funded by the Intramural Research Program of the National Human Genome Research Institute. This project was approved by the relevant IRB and all participants indicated their consent for participation. Data from the current report are available upon request.
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All authors contributed substantially to this report, MOG planned the study, conducted data analysis, and drafted the manuscript for publication; AJM conducted data analysis and drafted the manuscript for publication; SP planned the study, was involved in data collection, conducted data analysis, and drafted the manuscript for publication.
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Gbenro, M.O., Martingano, A.J. & Persky, S. Exploring the impact of genetic beliefs about specific eating behaviors on dietary self-efficacy. J Behav Med 45, 497–502 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-022-00290-w
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-022-00290-w