The neural pathways of change: an fMRI study of the effects of behavioral change suggestions on value-based dietary decision-making
Authors' conclusion
These findings indicate that shifting between changing and sustaining unhealthy eating habits biases food valuation and its encoding in neural pathways linked to valuation, cognitive control, and craving as a function of weight status.
Study context
- Population
- Participants with varying BMI and food addiction-like symptoms who underwent a motivational interviewing session
- Participants
- 85 participants
- Comparison
- Listening to own change talk vs sustain talk statements during food choice
- Outcome
- Food choices
- Follow-up
- One week after motivational interviewing session
Methodological detailsfMRI, within-participant change talk vs sustain talk, pre-registered
- fMRI
- Within-participant change talk vs sustain talk
- Pre-registered
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Food choices were healthier after listening to change talk, and more based on taste after sustain talk
- Effect stronger with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m², particularly with more food addiction-like symptoms
Further findings
Neural responses (fMRI) · at time of food choice
- BMI ≥ 25 kg/m²: stronger functional connectivity between ventromedial and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex after change vs sustain talk
- BMI < 30 kg/m²: stronger neural craving responses during food choice after sustain talk
- After change talk, BMI < 30 kg/m²: higher BMI linked to stronger neural craving responses during healthy food wanting and lower during tasty food wanting
Original publication
The neural pathways of change: an fMRI study of the effects of behavioral change suggestions on value-based dietary decision-making. Int J Obes (Lond). Published 10 February 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →