Abstract

MACEDO, Marina; ESCOBAL, Giovana  and  GOYOS, Celso. Choice and Preference for caloric and non caloric food in children with intellectual disabilities and overweight. Acta comport. [online]. 2013, vol.21, n.1, pp. 83-98. ISSN 0188-8145.

Obesity and overweight are considered relevant health issues today. Although much is known about the types of foods that contribute to it, few results have been observed in the control of impulsivity commonly involved in the food intake. Under the Experimental Analysis of Behavior perspective, impulsivity can be addressed within the choice paradigm through the model of concurrent-chain schedules in which responses to two alternatives of concurrent and independent schedules of reinforcement lead to other two schedules of reinforcement, depending on the chosen alternative. This experimental model allows the manipulation of many variables, among which delay of reinforcement. This study investigated whether the caloric value of food (Phase 1) and its magnitude (Phases 2 and 3) controlled the choice behavior of two individuals of nine and thirteen years with overweight and intellectual disability. Two identical gums were prepared, differing only in caloric value. In Phase 1, choices on Buttons 1 and 2 were followed by one caloric gum and one non-caloric gum, respectively. In Phase 2, choices on Buttons 1 and 2 were followed by one caloric gum and two non caloric gums, respectively. In Phase 3, choices on Buttons 1 and 2 were followed by one caloric and one non-caloric gum and a non-caloric gum, respectively. Four presentations of the schedules constituted a session. The data of interest were the responses of choice in Buttons 1 and 2. The first results illustrated that there is no preference for high-caloric foods, and will be considered as baseline for continuing the study, in which each of the possible controlling variables of food choice could be introduced (e.g., delay of reinforcing contingency, magnitude of reinforcement and response cost).The results of the participants in Phase 1 tended to indifference between alternatives. In Phase 2, P1 showed preference for the alternative of greater magnitude, but in Phase 3, the magnitude had little control over his choice response. The data of P2 tended to indifference in the two phases. It was discussed the reinforcing value of the stimuli used in the study. Studies on the nature of choice and preference for non-caloric and caloric foods are important to identify and describe appropriate procedures to understand and control food intake in populations in need, for example, preschool overweight or obese and with delayed intellectual development.

Keywords : food choice; obesity; children; intellectual disabilities; gum with or without caloric value.

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