Ignoring Cravings Makes You Eat More

Have you ever denied yourself of a food you love then obsess about it, eventually giving in and eating it anyway? Research shows that if you try to suppress your cravings, you may end up eating more of the food you crave than if you had openly admitted that you’re having a craving.

Researchers at the Hertfordshire University recruited 134 students to test for chocolate cravings. One group was told to try to suppress all thoughts about chocolate, and the other group was told to talk openly about how much they enjoy eating chocolate. They then chose between two different brands of chocolate, believing that only their choice of chocolate was being studied. Instead, the quantity of chocolate they ate was recorded. Women that were told not to talk about chocolate actually ate about 50% more than those who openly discussed their cravings.

Lead researcher James Erskine said that the best way to cut down on a “bad” food that you enjoy eating is not to avoid thinking about it. So, to avoid a binge, it may be best to give in to your craving.

This study may also help to explain the ‘yo-yo’ effect that often occurs when people that try to lose weight end up putting it back on.

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