A wide range of techniques have been evaluated and some show promise for use in weight management interventions .
OBJECTIVE This systematic review aim ed to ( a ) identify and categorize techniques used to modify or manage impulsive processes associated with unhealthy eating behavior , ( b ) describe the mechanisms targeted by such techniques , and ( c ) summarize available evidence on the effectiveness of these techniques .
The Future Is Now
Humans have the ability to engage in prospect i ve imagery to anticipate the future consequences of present behaviors ( Suddendorf & Busby , 2005 ) , but we often let our desire for immediate gratification lead us to devalue larger future consequences in favor of smaller immediate rewards . Discounting large future rewards in favor of smaller immediate rewards is known as delay discounting and increases with greater temporal distance between the rewards ( Bickel & Marsch , 2001 ) . One approach to reducing delay discounting is episodic future thinking ( Atance & O'Neill , 2001 ) . Episodic future thinking engages the episodic memory in prospect ively experiencing future events ( Atance & O'Neill , 2001 ; Schacter , Addis , & Buckner , 2007 ) and activates brain regions involved in prospect i ve thinking ( Benoit , Gilbert , & Burgess , 2011 ; Schacter et al. , 2007 ) . Episodic future thinking during intertemporal decision making reduces delay discounting , with the vividness of prospect i ve imagery predicting the degree of the reduction ( Peters & Buchel , 2010 ) . The inability to delay gratification is related to obesity ( Davis , Patte , Curtis , & Reid , 2010 ; Francis & Susman , 2009 ; Weller , Cook , Avsar , & Cox , 2008 ) .  Delay discounting  predicts intake of energy-dense convenience foods in obese women ( Appelhans et al. , 2012 ) , and poor impulse control predicts a lack of success in weight loss ( Best et al. , 2012 ) . To determine episodic future thinking 's effect on impulsive behavior , we assessed whether episodic future thinking , compared with engagement in a control imagery task , reduced impulsivity and energy intake in overweight and obese individuals
A wide range of techniques have been evaluated and some show promise for use in weight management interventions .
OBJECTIVE This systematic review aim ed to ( a ) identify and categorize techniques used to modify or manage impulsive processes associated with unhealthy eating behavior , ( b ) describe the mechanisms targeted by such techniques , and ( c ) summarize available evidence on the effectiveness of these techniques .