Hedonic hunger, ultra-processed food consumption, and the moderating effects of impulsivity in pregnant individuals with body mass index ≥ 25

Evidence suggests higher hedonic hunger (preoccupation with/desire to consume food for pleasure) is associated with greater ultra -processed food (UPF) consumption in non -pregnant individuals with higher, but not lower, self -report impulsivity or delay discounting. The current study tested the association between hedonic hunger and UPF consumption, and the moderating effects of self -report impulsivity and delay discounting, during pregnancy. Individuals ( N = 220) with body mass index (BMI) >= 25 completed the Power of Food Scale, 24-h dietary recalls, and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale -Version 11 in early -mid pregnancy. A subset enrolled in an ancillary study ( n = 143) completed a Delay Discounting Task. Linear regression and moderation models covaried for age, gestational age, pre -pregnancy BMI, and socioeconomic status. The association between hedonic hunger and UPF consumption was nonsignificant ( p = 0.47). Self -report impulsivity was not a significant moderator ( p = 0.11), but delay discounting was ( p = 0.01). Simple slopes analysis revealed a one -unit increase in hedonic hunger was associated with 7% lower UPF intake among participants with lower ( M +1 SD ) delay discounting ( p = 0.01) and 1% higher UPF intake among those with higher ( M -1 SD ) delay discounting ( p = 0.57). Findings contrast those from research with non -pregnant samples and indicate lower delay discounting may serve as a protective factor, associated with reduced UPF consumption at higher levels of hedonic hunger, during pregnancy.