Implicit and Explicit Memory Bias for Words Related to Food, Shape and Body Parts in Obese and Normal Weight Females

The aim of this study was to explore the information processing of words related to food, shape and body parts in women of obese and normal weights. Twenty severely obese patients, 20 obese patients and 20 normal weight individuals, all of whom were female, were assessed using implicit and explicit memory tasks. The memory tasks involved words related to food, shape and body parts. Results showed biases in implicit memory measures. Severely obese women completed significantly more food-related words than other words. Obese patients completed significantly more food- and shape-related words than did the other groups. Normal weight females did not show any bias on the implicit memory measures. No explicit memory biases were found in any groups.