Background:
Experimental studies reveal that deficits in food-related inhibitory control, rather than general impulsiveness, are closely linked to overweight and obesity. To date, the real-world implications remain unknown, and it is unclear whether these results are supported in the clinical field.

Objective:
To examine the effectiveness of a mobile health (mHealth) intervention with cognitive and behavioral therapeutic elements in altering impulsiveness and food-related inhibitory control.

Methods:
Prespecified secondary outcome analysis of a randomized controlled trial. Participants with overweight/obesity (BMI: M = 33.35 kg/m2, SD = 3.79 kg/m2, N = 213) were randomly assigned to either a 12-week mHealth intervention (n = 116) or wait-list control group (n = 97). The Barratt-Impulsiveness-Scale (BIS-15) and the Food-Related Inhibitory Control Scale (FRIS) were administered at baseline (T0) following the intervention (T1), at 9 and 15 month post baseline (T2, T3). Multi-level analyses were calculated.

Results:
Compared to the control group, the intervention group reported higher food-related inhibitory control on several subscales of the FRIS: In Withholding in Social Situations at T1 (95% CI: 0.06–0.46) and T2 (95%CI: 0.09–0.50), Action Cancellation at T1 (95%CI: 0.05–0.45), Resisting despite Craving at T1 (95% CI: 0.07–0.49), Withstanding Rewarding Food at T2 (95%CI: 0.08–0.55) and Action Withholding at T3 (95% CI: 0.01–0.55). No differences were found for trait impulsiveness (T1: 95%CI: −1.91–0.47; T2: 95%CI: −1.65–0.84; T3: 95%CI: −0.88–1.67).

Conclusions:
Food-related inhibitory control, rather than global measures of impulsiveness, addresses the critical association between inhibitory control and health-conscious dietary choices and can be improved by mHealth intervention.

Trial Registration:
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04080193