Talking yourself out of cravings: brain scans reveal how Self-Talk may rewire food addiction

NCT ID NCT05101863

First seen Jan 12, 2026 · Last updated Jun 23, 2026 · Updated 18 times

Summary

This study tested whether motivational interviewing—a therapy that helps people find their own reasons to change—can shift brain activity and food choices in people with food addiction. 56 participants, including those with and without obesity, underwent brain scans while making dietary decisions after talking about change. The goal was to see if self-generated 'change talk' alters the brain's reward response to food.

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This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Liane Schmidt

    Paris, Île-de-France Region, 75013, France

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

motivational interviewing

What this could lead to

If successful, this could help improve talking therapies for food addiction by showing how self-generated reasons for change affect the brain.

What could go wrong

This is a small, completed study (56 people) that looks at brain scans, not a treatment trial. Results may not apply to everyone or lead to a direct therapy.

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Food Addiction Obesity obesity disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.