Table 1.
EF and EF-related constructs and their relation to weight management and BWL skills
| Construct | Description | Example of relation to weight management |
|---|---|---|
| Core Executive Functions | ||
| Working memory | The ability to hold information in mind and manipulate it35 | Keeping long term health goals in working memory when selecting foods to eat in the moment (so that you are more likely to make healthier choices) |
| Inhibition | The ability to control impulses/thoughts/behaviors to override habits or internal dispositions to do what is more appropriate in the given situation35 | Inhibiting the urge to eat donuts that are in the break room |
| Cognitive flexibility | The ability to change perspectives and consider alternate solutions to a problem35 (also known as set-shifting) | Thinking flexibly about solutions for high-risk eating situations |
| Related Executive Functions | ||
| Reasoning | The ability to think logically and solve novel problems; decision-making40 | Evaluating and choosing which solution will work best for a given high-risk situation |
| Problem solving | The ability to describe the parameters of a situation, call upon relevant experience, select a solution, and plan a sequence of behavior41 | Identifying solutions that will work in future high-risk situations; anticipating and dealing with barriers |
| Planning | The ability to devise a sequence of behaviors needed to meet a goal19 | Meal planning; planning PA in advance; planning ahead for future high-risk situations |
| Prospective Memory | The ability to remember to do things in the future | Remembering to self-monitor, weigh weekly, and schedule in PA |
| Organization | The ability to maintain order both physically in your surroundings and cognitively to help achieve goal-directed action | Organizing the kitchen to promote eating more fruits and vegetables; system to store meal plans |
| Attention | The ability of certain stimuli to capture attention42 | Attending to healthy food choices rather than the high-calorie food cues in the environment |
| Fluency | The ability to generate a variety of ideas or responses | Generate a variety of ideas to use while planning for high-risk situations |