DONT Go For Grocery Shopping When You Are Hungry:

Jojy Cheriyan MD; MPH-May 07,2013

Hungry shoppers buy more junk foods than those who do the shopping on a full stomach. Some recent polls also showed that Americans eat an average 2.3 snacks/day which are unhealthy, when they don't feel like cooking . We know that shopping while hungry can tempt us buy more but no research has ever shown what type of foods we are tempted to buy.

A new study by Cornell researchers published yesterday in Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) took a step further and showed that we tend to make very bad choices on empty stomach.

The Cornell study was done in two parts. The first group of 68 participants were divided into those given wheat crackers to reduce appetite , and those who avoided eating for five hours. Then, all were asked to go shopping in a simulated online store that was filled with a mix of high-calorie foods and lower-calorie alternatives.

The second group of 82 went to a real grocery store. Some shopped after lunch when they were most likely to be full, others shopped before dinner when they were most likely to be hungry.

The results showed that-

· Hungry participants who shopped at the online store purchased a higher number of high-calorie products like candy, salty snacks and red meat; and lesser number of low cal fruits, veggies and chicken breasts.

· Hungry participants who shopped at the real store also bought fewer low-calorie foods compared to those who shopped when they were full.

People who skip meals for all sort of reasons, even on dieting schedule, can still buy more potato chips , ice-creams and other junk foods.

Hunger in the school cafeteria can also force children to make unhealthy food choices according to another study published on May 03, 2013 in the Journal of Pediatrics.

This study found that children who pre-ordered lunch, when they were not hungry, picked healthy choices than children who selected their choices in the lunch line.

Both these studies confirm that hungry shoppers are tempted to buy high-calorie junk foods and it is not a good idea to shop on empty stomach.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Post A Comment

Name
Email
Location
Title
Comment

Security Code :

		Reload for a new code

Menu

USEFUL LINKS

CONTACT US