Want To Reduce Food Cravings? Watching Others Eat May Help Curb It: Study

,

 / 

reduce food cravings

Did you know there’s a recent study on how watching food videos can actually reduce food cravings? It’s fascinating! Let me fill you in on the details.

A recent study published in the journal Scientific Reports explores the impact of immersive food videos, such as mukbang, on individuals’ cravings and eating habits.

Conducted by researchers from NTU Singapore, the study aimed to understand whether watching people consume large quantities of food would lead to increased cravings or unhealthy eating behaviors like binge eating.

How To Reduce Food Cravings? Watch Videos Of Others Eating!

The study involved 317 participants, representative of Singapore’s diverse population. One group watched an immersive video of people eating M&M’s, while a control group watched a repetitive video of a coin being inserted into a laundry machine.

Results revealed that those who watched the candy-eating video experienced a significant reduction in their candy cravings, consuming about one-third less candy compared to the control group.

This reduction was attributed to habituation, a psychological mechanism where repeated exposure to stimuli leads to reduced responses.

According to Benjamin Li Junting, an assistant professor at NTU’s Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and the study’s leader, these findings suggest that viewing food-related immersive videos can induce satiation and decrease post-viewing food consumption.

This could be beneficial for individuals looking to control their appetites or manage compulsive eating.

Furthermore, the study explored the impact of scent cues alongside visual cues. When participants watched the same video with the scent of chocolate diffused, they consumed 11% fewer M&M’s than when there was no scent.

This demonstrated that combining olfactory and visual stimuli can enhance the feeling of satiation.

The researchers plan to conduct further studies to understand the long-term effects of immersive videos on eating behaviors. They also intend to explore the influence of different types of scents and the duration of scent exposure.

In summary, this study suggests that watching immersive food videos, like mukbang, can reduce cravings and food consumption due to habituation.

Additionally, combining scent cues with visual cues can further enhance this effect. These findings may have implications for interventions aimed at curbing compulsive eating behaviors and portraying healthier eating habits in media.

Share your thoughts in the comments below!


— Share —

— About the Author —

Leave a Reply

Up Next

Stress Can Lead to Cortisol Belly: Here’s How to Fix It

reduce food cravings

Stress can affect our lives in many ways, from our mental health to our relationships, but it can also lead to physical symptoms such as โ€˜cortisol bellyโ€™. Cortisol belly, named after the stress hormone, has been widely discussed on social platforms such as TikTok, with users and experts explaining how it occurs, and theorizing what could be done about it.

While you may not have heard of the term โ€˜cortisol bellyโ€™ before, you might have heard of stubborn belly fat or stress belly, which are essentially the same thing. This is because it refers to the accumulation of visceral adipose tissue around the stomach, which has been linked to prolonged exposure to elevated levels of the stress hormone, cortisol.

What Is Cortisol Belly?

According to dietitian

Up Next

Study Reveals the Complex Relationship Between Calorie Restriction and Longevity

reduce food cravings

For years, scientists have speculated that consuming fewer calories might help people live longer. A recent study has shed new light on this topic, suggesting that the relationship between calorie restriction and longevity is more complex than previously thought.

“We’ve known for nearly 100 years that calorie restriction can extend healthy lifespan in a variety of laboratory animals,” stated one researcher last year to CNN.

However, the new study seems to indicate a more intricate relationship between calorie restriction and living to a ripe old age.

“There are many reasons why caloric restriction may extend human lifespans, and the topic is still being studied,” explained Waylon Hastings, lead author of the study and postdoctoral researcher. “One primary mechanism through which life is extended relates t

Up Next

Exercise Cuts Heart Disease Risk by Lowering Stress, Study Finds

reduce food cravings

New research indicates that physical activity lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease, in part by reducing stress-related signaling in the brain. The study, led by investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital and published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, found that people with stress-related conditions such as depression experienced the most cardiovascular benefits from physical activity.

To assess the mechanisms underlying the psychological and cardiovascular disease benefits of physical activity, Ahmed Tawakol, an investigator and cardiologist in the Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center at Massachusetts General Hospital, and his colleagues analyzed medical records and other information of 50,359 participants from the Mass General Brigham Biobank who completed a physical activity survey.

A subset of 774 participants also underw

Up Next

Lack of Sleep Linked to Rising Cases of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, Warns Expert

reduce food cravings

In a recent revelation, lack of adequate sleep has been associated with a concerning rise in cases of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), according to insights shared by medical experts. As sleep deprivation continues to plague a significant portion of the population, the implications on public health are becoming increasingly alarming.

More than a third of adults in the United States fail to attain the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep each night, a trend that has sparked growing concerns among healthcare professionals. The scarcity of shuteye, it turns out, can have profound effects beyond daytime fatigue and drowsiness.

What is Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease?

According to Ibrahim Hanouneh, a gastroenterologist with

Up Next

Study Explores Impact of Residential Green Space on Childhood Mental Health

reduce food cravings

A recent study published in JAMA Network Open investigates the relationship between residential green space and externalizing and internalizing symptoms in children. Conducted in the United States, the study aims to identify potential factors that can mitigate risks associated with childhood mental health disorders.

According to the study, up to 40% of children in the US may meet the criteria for mental disorders by adulthood, with an increased prevalence of externalizing (e.g., rule-breaking and aggression) and internalizing (e.g., depression and anxiety) symptoms.

Researchers suggest that environmental factors, such as green spa

Up Next

Study Links Volatile Work Hours to Burnout and Health Issues

reduce food cravings

A recent study conducted by NYU Social Work professor Wen-Jui Han has shed light on the detrimental effects of volatile work hours on both physical and mental health. The research, which analyzed data spanning over 30 years, found a significant correlation between irregular work hours and increased health concerns.

The study, which examined the work schedules and sleep patterns of over 7,000 Americans, revealed that individuals working rotating shifts were more prone to health problems such as diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. The primary factor contributing to these issues was identified as a disruption in sleep patterns caused by inconsistent work schedules.

Jamaica Shiers, a representative from Path Behavioral Health in Salt Lake City, emphasized the prevalence of burnout among adults, attributing it to the pressure to maintain peak performance at al

Up Next

New Study Suggests Balanced Diet Better Than Vegetarian Diet for Brain Health

reduce food cravings

In a groundbreaking study published in Nature Mental Health, researchers have shed light on the relationship between dietary patterns and brain health. The study suggests that a balanced diet, comprising various food types, may be superior to a vegetarian diet in supporting mental well-being and cognitive function.

The research, which analyzed data from nearly 182,000 participants, focused on four main dietary patterns: starch-free/reduced starch, vegetarian, high-protein/low-fiber, and balanced diet. Participants’ food preferences were examined in categories such as fruits, vegetables, starches, protein, and snacks.