The effectiveness of Go/No-Go and Stop-Signal training in reducing food consumption and choice: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

The Go/No-Go and Stop-Signal tasks have been used to reduce excess food intake via repeated pairing of food cues with response inhibition. A meta analysis of 32 studies was conducted to determine whether, and under which conditions, the Go/No-Go and Stop-Signal training tasks are effective in reducing food consumption or choice. Moderators included task parameters (e.g., number of sessions, stop signal), sample differences (e.g., age, weight), and the measure of food consumption or choice. Overall, there was a small effect for Go/No-Go and Stop-Signal training in reducing food consumption or choice, g = -0.21, CI₉₅ = [-0.31, -0.11], p < .001, with this holding individually only for a single session of the Go/No-Go Task, g = -0.31, CI₉₅ = [-0.45, -0.18], p < .001. Comprehensive investigation of the impact of varying moderators indicated that the effect for Go/No-Go training was robust. Nevertheless, there was significant variation in the specific parameters of the task. Overall, the present meta-analysis extends previous findings by providing comprehensive evidence that the Go/No-Go Task is effective in reducing food consumption and choice, as well as providing optimal parameter recommendations for the task.

Keywords: Devaluation; Food choice; Food consumption; Go/No-Go task; Inhibitory control; Meta-Analysis; Stop-signal task.