Adherence
High trait food craving (measured by FCQ-T-r) predicts susceptibility to state food craving triggered by palatable food cues, independent of physiological hunger.
If you experience strong, specific desires for certain foods (especially palatable ones) even when you aren't physically hungry, this is likely 'trait food craving' rather than a biological need. This psychological susceptibility is triggered by cues (sight, smell) and is distinct from plain hunger. Understanding this can help you differentiate between true physiological needs and cue-driven urges, allowing for more mindful dietary choices.
trait food craving was specifically associated with state food craving triggered by palatable food-cues, but not with state food craving related to plain hunger.
Why this rating
The study uses robust psychometric validation (Study 1) and a controlled behavioral task (Study 2) with regression analysis, though the sample size for Study 2 is small (N=70).
Source
A short version of the Food Cravings Questionnaire—Trait: the FCQ-T-reduced
Adrian Meule et al. · Frontiers in Psychology · 2014
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