ACT and Food Craving in a Non-Clinical Population

Abstract

A food craving is an intense urge to consume a desired food; the craving is specific and cannot be satiated by any other food. Forman and colleagues (2007) found, that for individuals with a Power of Food Scale score of 42 or higher, an acceptance-based workshop decreased an individual’s food craving and snack food consumption. I aimed to replicate Forman et al.’s (2007) findings using a single-subject multiple-baseline experimental design and expanded the food used in the study from chocolate to a range of preferred snack foods. Eleven participants completed the Power of Food Scale questionnaire, Food Craving Questionnaire-State version, daily single-item Craving Dimension ratings, and measured daily consumption snack food weights. Findings replicated Forman et al.’s (2007) results. When individual analysis was applied, a gender difference was suggested with male data displaying more change in consumption levels and craving ratings compared to the female consumption levels and craving ratings data.