Non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) are increasingly used as low- or zero-calorie alternatives to sugar while maintaining sweetness. However, uncoupling sweet taste from caloric content may alter appetite regulation and promote food-seeking behavior, although the underlying neural mechanisms remain poorly understood. To address this, we conducted a systematic review in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched up to June 2025 using terms related to NNS, neuroimaging and appetite regulation. Of 137 screened records, 21 neuroimaging reports met predefined PICO-based eligibility criteria. Eligible reports included healthy adults across weight categories and examined artificial or naturally occurring NNS (e.g., sucralose, erythritol) compared with nutritive sweeteners (NS; e.g., sucrose) or non-sweet controls (e.g., water). Outcomes included appetite-related brain responses measured using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) or positron emission tomography (PET), as well as associations with gut hormones, glucose metabolism, and eating behavior. NNS and NS both engaged gustatory and reward-related brain regions, with some reports showing reduced activity and lower pleasantness ratings for NNS. Hypothalamic activity and functional connectivity were also modulated by NNS intake, with no observed associations between brain responses and gut hormones or glucose metabolism in the available reports. Overall, the evidence remains limited and varies by NNS type, dose, delivery method, habitual intake, sex, weight status, and metabolic state. Future studies should investigate acute and long-term NNS consumption under real-world conditions with greater ethnic and demographic diversity, accounting for individual variability to better inform dietary guidelines.

Emotional eating and food cravings are common among adults living with overweight or obesity. This study investigated these in relation to weight-management success and reports on strategies for managing emotional eating. A quasi-prospective study design was used including an online survey completed by 3,834 adults on a community weight management programme. Measures included negative and positive emotional eating (BEES) and food craving (CoEQ). Additionally, objectively measured body weight over the previous 12 weeks was obtained and participants were grouped into Higher (>10%, N=962), Moderate (5-10%, N=2156), and Lower (<5%, N=716) weight loss groups. Open questions were used to explore strategies for managing emotional eating. Between-group differences were tested using univariate ANOVAs, with Tukey post hoc comparisons where significant effects emerged. Open ended responses were analysed using inductive thematic analysis and mapped onto the Behaviour Change Taxonomy. Respondents were mostly female (92.0%), mean age=57.2 years, and BMI=32.1 kg/m[2]. Results showed participants had lost 3.7 BMI units over the previous 12 weeks. Higher weight loss was strongly associated with lower negative and positive emotional eating, fewer food cravings and eating control difficulties. Prominent themes for managing emotional eating were distraction (31.7%) and physical activity along with healthier food substitutions, planning and positive mindset. Group social support was also highlighted. These data highlight the perceived importance of psychological and group-based social support in weight management.

The brain's high energy demands are met by a suite of metabolic pathways that selectively appropriate glucose across development, yet how this metabolic strategy changes across the lifespan and whether it is conserved across species remains incompletely understood. We previously mapped five core energy metabolism pathways across the human cortex and lifespan, revealing a fundamental dichotomy between anabolic and energy-producing pathway expression: the pentose phosphate pathway, which contributes to biomass, peaks prenatally, while glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation rise postnatally. Here, we extend the analysis to the rhesus macaque and show that the prenatal-to-postnatal transition is similar across the two species. Using the MitoCarta3.0 annotation framework, we further identify two consistent mitochondria-specific programs: a progressive decline in mitochondrial genome maintenance pathways, and a postnatal rise in the expression of genes involved in mitochondrial energy production and substrate utilization, replicated across human and macaque. Extending to mouse, rat, and chicken, we find this shifting transcriptome-level metabolic strategy is a conserved feature of vertebrate brain development. Finally, we map the cortical expression of mitochondria-localized pathway genes in the adult human cortex, finding that the anabolic-oxidative dichotomy follows in the mature brain. Together, these findings provide a comparative transcriptomic reference for studying brain energy metabolism across the lifespan.

Nature exposure (including through images) offers physical and psychological benefits, including cognitive restoration. Growing evidence suggests it may also promote healthy food choices, though the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This pre-registered study examined whether perceived restorativeness (the perceived capacity of an environment for cognitive restoration) mediates the effect of nature image exposure on healthy food choices. Fruit and vegetable (FV) desirability was also examined as an alternative outcome. A total of 925 adults (M age = 39.46 y, SD = 15.67, 54.3% female) participated in an online between-subjects experiment and were exposed to a natural or urban image for 30 s. They then completed a food choice task - selecting a main course, side dish and drink (each from four options; two healthy, two unhealthy), followed by perceived restorativeness and FV desirability measures. There was a significant main effect of healthiness on the likelihood of choice (OR = 1.77, p < .001) and a significant healthiness × image exposure interaction (OR = 1.40, p < .001), indicating that healthy food choices were more likely following nature (vs. urban) image exposure. Additionally, nature (vs. urban) image exposure had a significant indirect effect on healthy food choices through perceived restorativeness (ACME = 0.04, p = .022). However, nature (vs. urban) image exposure did not significantly affect FV desirability (p = .087, d = 0.11). These findings suggest that nature image exposure can promote healthy food choices (though not FV desirability), an effect explained by enhanced perceived restorativeness.

The acculturation process and its related stress have been associated with health declines among Hispanic/Latino immigrants in the US. However, the impact on caregiver feeding style and the home food environment are unknown. This study aimed to assess the associations between maternal acculturation and acculturation stress with both caregiver feeding style (n = 248) and the home food environment (n = 178) using data from mother-child dyads from the Family Lifestyle Outcomes Research ancillary study of the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos. Children were aged 3-9 years at the time of the study. Results suggest an association between greater maternal acculturative stress and greater odds of authoritative and authoritarian feeding styles. An association between greater acculturative stress and greater maternal demandingness in feeding was also observed. Additionally, greater language acculturation and greater length of time in the US were associated with more sweetened beverages and fewer fruits and vegetables reported in the home. These results highlight the importance of supporting Hispanic immigrants as they adapt to life in the US and developing culturally appropriate interventions that can address child feeding and food purchasing behaviors among immigrant parents.

Go/No-Go (GNG) training can influence food evaluations, yet the processes underlying these effects remain debated. Associative accounts propose that evaluative change emerges through repeated stimulus-response learning, whereas inferential accounts emphasise the evaluative meaning individuals derive from stimulus-response relations. This research examined whether instructions about stimulus-response contingencies can influence food evaluations before the corresponding responses are performed. Across two preregistered studies, participants received either detailed contingency instructions or general task instructions. In both conditions, go responses were framed as selecting a food and no-go responses as rejecting a food. The detailed instructions additionally specified which food category was associated with each response. Detailed instructions also framed go responses as selecting a food and no-go responses as rejecting a food. Food evaluations were assessed after instruction but before training (T1), and after GNG training (T2). Study 1 (n = 54) used familiar food stimuli, whereas Study 2 (n = 63) used novel, unfamiliar food stimuli. At T1, evaluations of go- and no-go-associated foods did not differ between instruction conditions in either study. Following GNG training, go-associated stimuli were evaluated more positively in both studies, whereas no-go devaluation was observed for familiar foods in Study 1 but not overall for unfamiliar foods in Study 2. Exploratory analyses in Study 2 indicated stronger no-go devaluation among participants higher in trait impulsivity. These findings suggest that providing information about stimulus-response contingencies before training was not reflected in differences in food evaluations. The observed changes in evaluations following training suggest that the evaluative impact of these stimulus-response assignments may depend in part on how responses are experienced and interpreted during task performance, although this possibility requires further investigation.

Women generally consume a healthier diet than men; however, both fall short of dietary guidelines. Health behaviour theories are often applied in a gender-neutral manner, implicitly assuming that explanatory models operate similarly across groups. This conceptual replication tested the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation and Behaviour (COM-B) model for dietary behaviour, originally evaluated in a female-dominant sample, in a male-dominant sample (N = 1358; 67% male). Using the same measurement battery and a closely aligned analytic approach, structural equation modelling indicated acceptable overall fit, with the COM-B model explaining 22% of the variance in diet quality. As in the original study, capability and opportunity were associated with behaviour indirectly through motivation, which was the strongest predictor of diet quality. At the indicator level, the male-dominant model retained action control and habits (capability), descriptive norms and the home food environment (opportunity), and self-efficacy, intentions, affective attitudes and perceived behavioural control (motivation), whereas identity, decision-making barriers, instrumental attitudes and the shopping environment indicator were not retained during trimming. These differences, relative to the female-dominant model, suggest potential variation in how COM-B constructs are operationalised across gender-dominant samples and should be treated as hypothesis-generating. Discriminant validity concerns (habits-action control; self-efficacy-intention) further indicated overlap between conceptually distinct constructs in the male-dominant sample. Overall, findings support the stability of the higher-order COM-B pathway while highlighting potential group differences in indicator contributions, with implications for measurement and population-sensitive intervention design.

The problematic use of digital technology is closely related to a sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy eating habits; however, the underlying mechanisms of these associations are unclear. It is believed that problematic use of digital technology may increase motives for eating palatable foods through changes in the reward system and exposure to food cues in digital environments, and that this may be associated with unhealthy lifestyle behaviors. The aim of this study was to investigate the mediating role of palatable eating motives in the relationships between problematic digital technology use, body mass index (BMI), and Mediterranean lifestyle (MEDLIFE) among young adults. This cross-sectional study analyzed data obtained from 610 young adults. The data collection tools included Descriptive Information Form, Digital Addiction Scale (DAS), Palatable Eating Motives Scale (PEMS), BMI and MEDLIFE index. The mean age of participants was 21.6 ± 1.7 years. In the mediation model between DAS and BMI, the total (β:0.215, 95%CI:0.586; 1.237), direct (β:0.167, 95%CI:0.365; 1.051) and indirect effects of PEMS (β:0.048, 95%CI:0.074; 0.346) were all statistically significant. In the mediation model between DAS and MEDLIFE index, the total (β:-0.456, 95%CI:-2.212;-1.603), direct (β:-0.424, 95%CI:-2.101;-1.451) and indirect effects of PEMS (β:-0.032, 95%CI:-0.251;-0.024) were all statistically significant. Findings suggest that higher digital addiction is associated with higher BMI and lower MEDLIFE, and these relationships are partially mediated by palatable eating motivations. Notably, the mediating effect was more pronounced in the association with BMI, whereas it was comparatively limited in the association with MEDLIFE.

The revised Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire -18 (TFEQ-R18) is used to assess eating behaviour in weight management, obesity, and epidemiological studies. We provided sex-specific normative values as percentiles for the TFEQ-R18 from three population-based samples (Northern Finland cohorts) across different age groups (i.e., 33-35, 45-46, and 68-70 years) among 8959 participants (58% female). Mean values with SD were compared across six BMI classes, stratified by sex and age group. Percentile and mean values for cognitive restraint and emotional eating were higher in females than in males across all age groups. Additionally, the mean values for uncontrolled eating and emotional eating were highest in young adulthood and lowest in old adulthood, whereas cognitive restraint was higher in old adulthood than among younger adults. TFEQ-R18 domain scores differed between BMI classes; visual inspection suggested positive linear or slightly curvilinear associations in all age groups. These population-based norms may help healthcare professionals identify deviant eating behaviour and target support. Normative data also enhance the clinical and research utility of the TFEQ-R18. According to our findings, universal cut-off values cannot be defined for TFEQ-R18 scores; instead, the scores should be interpreted in relation to sex, age, and weight status. Future research should examine the longitudinal changes of eating behaviour in the general population and aim to find out cut-off scores for the screening of disordered eating. Also, the co-occurrence of eating behaviour dimensions in the general population and among obesity-treatment-seeking individuals needs to be recognised for the multidimensional manifestations of eating behaviour.

Shifting toward sustainable diets is key to reducing the environmental impact of food systems. In school meals, this often involves meat reduction through strategies such as all-vegetarian days and lower-carbon recipe reformulation. Yet students' perceptions of such concrete menu changes have received little attention. This convergent mixed-methods study examined students' perceptions of climate-friendly school meals and their interpretations of meat reduction. Quantitative survey data from 1268 students across six Swedish schools were analyzed using multiple regression, alongside qualitative data from student discussions analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Both quantitative and qualitative findings suggested that lower-carbon recipe reformulation was more acceptable to students than vegetarian-only days. Quantitative analysis showed that more positive attitudes toward climate-friendly school meals were associated with perceiving climate considerations as important in food choice, more frequent selection of vegetarian meals at school, and being female. Students also showed clear awareness of the relative carbon footprint of red meat and plant-based foods across support levels. Qualitative findings, however, highlighted that the acceptability of climate-friendly meals depended strongly on perceived taste and satiety. Meat was positioned as a normative component of a meal, while acceptance of vegetarian meals was more conditional on familiarity and palatability. These findings corroborate earlier research showing that taste, familiarity, and meal norms shape acceptance of meat reduction in school meals more strongly than sustainability concerns alone. They also indicate that lower-carbon recipe reformulation may complement vegetarian-only days as a practical strategy for supporting acceptance and intake of climate-friendly school meals.

Growing concerns about the health, social, and environmental impacts of high meat consumption have driven interest in plant-based diets and effective policies to reduce meat intake. Hybrid meat products, combining animal-derived ingredients and alternative protein sources, represent a promising strategy toward reduced meat consumption. This scoping review set out to systematically map and synthesise existing research on consumers' psychological constructs and outcomes related to hybrid meat products. Using the Population, Concept, and Context (PCC) framework, this review focused on consumers of any demographic exposed to hybrid meat in various contexts, including retail, restaurant, and experimental settings. Seventy-nine peer-reviewed publications published up to December 2025 were included in the review after meeting the predefined inclusion criteria. Data extraction used a custom tool, and analysis involved frequency counts and descriptive summaries of key characteristics and themes. Across studies, hybrid meat products generally showed high consumer acceptance, liking, and preference, often exceeding expectations. Sensory appeal emerged as a strong predictor of liking and acceptance, and a wide range of ingredients and non-meat ratios (1% to 80%) were generally well accepted. Information provision could influence hybrid meat adoption, with environmental and health messages showing the greatest positive impact. "These findings contribute to understanding how hybrid meat products may fit within sustainable dietary transitions, while highlighting communication strategy and long-term behavioural adaptation as areas requiring further research."

Food noise has emerged as a new term to describe a preoccupation with food that can be persistent, intrusive, and unwanted. The term has become popular on social media platforms like TikTok and Reddit, typically alongside discussion of the effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist medications (e.g., semaglutide, tirzepatide). Specifically, people report that taking a GLP-1 medication can dampen or substantially reduce their food noise. Qualitative research describes how this effect is welcomed and can allow people more control over their eating habits. However, although reductions in food noise appear to be a promising impact of treatment with a GLP-1 medication and may help to explain disordered eating behaviours, little is known about what exactly food noise is, what causes it, and how any remediation of distressing thoughts might work. As such, this narrative review critically discusses existing research into food noise, including proposed definitions and existing qualitative findings, to better understand the conceptualisation of the construct. Based on current understandings of food noise, we present five potential theoretical explanations for food noise: homeostatic theory, food cue reactivity, food addiction, thought suppression, and memory inhibition. We end by synthesising these five theories and providing suggestions for future research.

Combining fat and carbohydrate (carb) increases food reward. Previously, we reasoned that a mechanism is reduced satiety - foods comprising a more equal ratio of carb and fat deliver less satiety per calorie. In an initial test of this theory, we completed two online data collections, one in the US (N = 148 participants, 36 foods) and one in the UK (N = 150 participants, 24 foods). In both, participants evaluated high-carb, high-fat, and 'combo' (equal fat/carb) foods. Consistent with our preregistered hypotheses, in both studies, combo foods were (1) rated more liked (taste pleasantness: UK Carb = Fat < Combo, p < .001, ƞp[2] = .33; US Carb = Fat < Combo, p < .001, ƞp[2] = .06), (2) rated more rewarding (desire to eat: UK Carb = Fat < Combo, p < .001, ƞp[2] = .30; US Carb = Fat < Combo, p < .001, ƞp[2] = .08) and (3) expected to be less satiating (comfortably full: UK Carb = Fat < Combo, p < .001, ƞp[2] = .29; US Carb = Fat < Combo, p < .001, ƞp[2] = .23). The results for other measures (hypothetical ideal portion (kcal) and maximum portion (kcal) and rated prospective sickliness) were also consistent with our pre-registered hypotheses (all p < .001). Together, these findings align with our theory that combo foods are more rewarding because they deliver less fullness. In turn, this pattern may reflect a form of nutritional intelligence, whereby food reward motivates the selection of foods that can maximise energy intake. However, research comprising causal studies is required to confirm or refute this claim.

Socioeconomic disparities in dietary behavior are often partially attributed to differences in the residential food environment, yet evidence linking food outlet availability to diet quality remains inconsistent. The Environmental Research framework for weight Gain prevention (EnRG) proposes that environmental influences operate through both a cognitive pathway, mediated by Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) constructs, and a direct, automatic pathway. In this secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from 1033 adults with oversampling of low socioeconomic position, we tested both pathways while additionally examining the role of food insecurity and financial scarcity. Outlet density and distance to nearest fast-food and fruit and vegetable outlet were measured at the postal code level. Dietary behavior, TPB constructs, food insecurity, and financial scarcity were assessed by self-report. Path analyses tested cognitive mediation; subgroup and moderation analyses examined whether food insecurity altered food environment effects. The residential food environment showed minimal associations with dietary consumption: only one of eight direct associations reached significance (fast-food distance and fast-food consumption), and was attenuated in path analyses. All paths from food environment characteristics to TPB constructs were non-significant, indicating no support for cognitive mediation. Food insecurity did not moderate food environment effects. In contrast, food insecurity and financial scarcity were consistently associated with lower fruit and vegetable consumption and poorer diet quality, but not with fast-food consumption. These findings do not support the hypothesis that the residential food environment plays a large role in shaping dietary behavior in low-SEP populations, while financial constraints were more consistently associated with dietary outcomes supporting evaluation of policies aimed at affordability alongside environmental interventions.