Seeing pictures of chocolate or pizza during a bad mood could help control your appetite for junk food, a latest study shows.
Researchers conducted five separate experiments on participants. They monitored the participants' behaviour who were shown indulgent words or images.
The study authors showed the participants either a series of print ads that had junk food like pizza and chocolate cake or neutral print ads that featured washing machines and electric cars. The researchers then assigned them a task that required the participants to write about the moments in their lives that made them feel sad. Following this, the participants were given choice to eat indulgent foods like M&M's and chocolate chip cookies.
The study results showed that people who saw pictures of washing machines and electric cars were more likely to eat M&M's and chocolate chip cookies, lead researchers Anthony Salerno, Juliano Laran (both University of Miami), and Chris Janiszewski (University of Florida) stated in their study. The participants who avoided eating junk food were also more likely to say that it was harmful for health.
"We found that when people who are sad are exposed to pictures of indulgent food or indulgent words, their sadness highlights the negative consequences of indulging and encourages them to indulge less," researchers said in a press release.
"Our research has important implications for consumers, particularly as obesity remains a major health concern in the United States. For brands looking to understand what triggers help and hinder people in their ability to eat healthy foods, we provide insight into when sadness might aid consumers in becoming less prone to indulging in unhealthy foods on a daily basis," researchers concluded.
The findings are published in the Journal of Consumer Research.
