The interplay between emotion and biased cognitive processing in problematic consumption

People frequently engage in consumption that can negatively impact their physical and mental health, including eating junk food and drinking alcohol. While some do so in ways that are relatively harmless, for others this consumption can become severely problematic. Almost 40% of adults worldwide are now overweight, and thus at increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders, and some cancers. Worldwide,
3.3 million deaths every year result from harmful use of alcohol, which also is a causal factor in a wide range of diseases, injury conditions, and mental and behavioural disorders. Given these detrimental consequences for individuals and societies, researchers are seeking to identify the processes that underlie problematic consumption. In addition to advancing understanding concerning why people engage in harmful patterns of consumption, identifying the underlying processes will inform the development and refinement of effective public health interventions and clinical procedures that can attenuate problematic consumption.