More Research

After much rumination and list making, as well as database searching I have come up with a research question for my obesity research! I am going to do research on impulsivity and research again but I am leaving the media portion out. Here is my reasoning and research question from my initial proposal to my professor:

There is a link between food cravings and impulsivity and this leads to obesity. I would like to investigate this with an eye toward food as an addictive substance. My research question thus far is:

People who experience food cravings will also score higher on impulsivity tests. People who experience food cravings and score high for impulsivity will be overweight to obese.

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I am not completely happy with it; it seems rather simplistic but I am limited as to what I can do as an undergrad. I can’t measure people’s physiological states or do brain scans nor can I alter their brain chemistry, etc. I don’t think we have the resources to do research with rats or mice so this is what I am stuck with. I am interested in my question, don’t get me wrong, I just wanted to do something more. Not sure what I mean by that but perhaps a true experiment, plus I want to see the affect food has on the brain. I know what I feel when it comes to food cravings and I believe food is addicting (is it food or eating that is addicting) but I want to be able to show something concrete.

The research will be survey based. I intend to have my participants take an impulsivity survey then answer questions about their weight, height and eating habits. I also will ask about food cravings and favorite foods. Since there is a correlation between impulsivity and addiction (it is thought they have or act on the same brain pathways) I am trying to draw a connection between food cravings and addiction.

Obviously I have to do more research to back up my argument. I have some good articles picked out but I just haven’t had the time to go through them. My professor didn’t give me any negative feedback so I assume I am on the right track.