However, we acknowledge that the use of weight loss supplements
was manipulated in a categorical fashion and that our
findings focused on the immediate effects of a subtle manipulation.
A prospective nationwide study on the duration of the
liberation effect driven by the use of weight loss supplements
should be conducted in the future. Additionally, approximately
half the individuals in our sample were of normal weight. Given
that participant BMI was not associated with food consumption
in the reward buffet, it may be reasonable to assume that the
observed link between taking weight loss supplements and
increased food consumption is not dependent on the user’s
weight. Moreover, all participants in this research intended to
lose weight. The liberating effect of the use of weight loss supplements
on decreased control of food intake may be confined to
those who are sensitive to progress toward the goal of weight
reduction. Finally, the notion of disinhibition or licensing [8,18,
19] may predict the same effect, namely that dietary control
may be reduced after taking weight loss supplements. A previous
study demonstrated that the “health credentials” provided by
taking multivitamins would trigger a fundamental psychological
belief in one’s invulnerability to health hazards, leading to
loosened regulation of subsequent health to related behaviors
[15]. It appears that the misattribution of taking supplements to
health credentials [15] or optimistic goal progress [12] may both
account for the effect of weight loss supplement use on subsequent
food consumption.