The Weird Trick That Makes You Want Less Junk Food

"According to a recent study, 'visual indulgence in unhealthy food content can reduce subsequent actual consumption.' The authors had dieting participants consume content from a food blog and observed that A) they were more likely to engage with unhealthy food than healthy food and B) that engagement reduced real-world consumption of unhealthy food."

"Images and videos of unhealthy food scratched a 'visual' itch, which then diminished their 'gustatory' cravings. The authors call this process 'cross-modal satiation.'"

Research indicates that visual exposure to unhealthy food can lead to decreased consumption among dieters. Participants who engaged with food-related media reported higher engagement with unhealthy options but ultimately consumed less. This phenomenon, termed cross-modal satiation, suggests that viewing food images satisfies visual cravings, which in turn diminishes the desire to eat. The findings challenge the assumption that food advertising always increases consumption, particularly among those who are dieting.

Read at InsideHook