Nutritional habits, inhibitory control, and emotional reactivity to healthy and unhealthy food cues in non-obese female students: insights from heart rate variability.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Research shows that the nutritional habits of university students do not follow the national recommendations. While most studies have focused on the increased risk of overweight/obesity, avoiding unhealthy food or maintaining a normal weight does not necessarily result in a regular consumption of healthy essential nutrients.

Methods

The present study was aimed at investigating the interplay between emotional reactivity and inhibitory control in 42 non-obese female students exposed to healthy (fish/lean meat, fruit/vegetables) and unhealthy (savory and sweet junk food) food pictures, after an average fasting of 7.5 h. Resting heart rate variability (HRV) was assessed as a physiological index of self-regulation, exploring its association with emotional reactivity an

SUBMITTER: Sarlo M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12442432 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature