# CAREER: Attention Related Health Cognitions as a Chronic Stressor

> **NSF 01003031DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT** · Kent State University (OH) · $708,082

## Abstract

Obesity has steadily risen in the United States and about half of Americans report having negative experiences related to their body weight. In response, people pay more attention to the world around them to identify and avoid future negative interactions related to their body weight. Although increases in attention to body weight are meant to protect the person, it may do the opposite by causing increases in stress and counterproductive behaviors. This NSF CAREER project examines whether increased attention to body weight causes physical changes in the body, psychological changes, and behavioral changes. This work is important because it identifies physical, psychological, and behavioral indices that can be targeted to help reduce obesity and support a physically active country.

This research establishes attention related health cognitions as a chronic stressor with direct impacts on physiological, behavioral, and psychological outcomes. First, in three lab experiments, this work tests whether attention related health cognitions cause increases in stress and arousal hormones, changes in eating behavior, changes in emotionality, and increases in the perceived difficulty of moderate exercise. Next, using short-term longitudinal methods, this project evaluates whether attention related health cognitions first induce restrictive dieting behavior followed by overeating or binge eating behavior in the same day. It also tracks emotional changes that occur with body-related exper

## Key facts

- **NSF award ID:** 2440907
- **Awardee organization:** Kent State University (OH)
- **SAM.gov UEI:** KXNVA7JCC5K6
- **PI:** Mary S Himmelstein
- **Primary program:** 01003031DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
- **All programs:** CAREER-Faculty Erly Career Dev, SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, Science of Broadening Participation, UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION, GRADUATE INVOLVEMENT
- **Estimated total:** $708,082
- **Funds obligated:** $380,195
- **Transaction type:** Continuing Grant
- **Period:** 07/01/2025 → 06/30/2031

## Primary source

NSF Award Search: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2440907

## Citation

> US National Science Foundation, Award 2440907, CAREER: Attention Related Health Cognitions as a Chronic Stressor. Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-06 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nsf/2440907. Licensed CC0.

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