Fast-food binges beat boredom

03 May 2016 - 09:01 By Staff reporter

Researchers think they have found out why couch potatoes like tucking into crisps and chocolates - it's because they're bored. A study by researchers at the University of Central Lancashire, in the UK, concluded that people crave fatty and sugary food when they are bored.The research involved two study groups. The first group of 52 participants was asked to complete a questionnaire on food preferences before and after completing a boredom-inducing task.The second group had to watch either a boring or a funny video, during which they had on offer a range of both healthy and unhealthy snacks.The bowls were weighed before and after each viewing to work out how much of each snack had been eaten.Study groups in which boredom was induced had a preference for "unhealthy" foods, such as crisps and fast food.Lead researcher Sandi Mann believed that boredom induced low levels of the pleasure hormone dopamine and people tried to boost the level by eating fat and sugar. ..

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.