Hunger drives preference for tasty, unhealthy foods

A new study finds that hunger affects how people make food choices, leading them to prioritize taste over health. When hungry, individuals are more likely to overlook nutritional information. This can result in poor dietary decisions. The research, published in eLife, involved experiments that included eye-tracking and decision-making models. The findings suggest that hungry people focus more on the appealing aspects of food and less on its nutritional quality. This behavior could contribute to rising obesity rates, which have doubled since 1990, according to the World Health Organization. Participants in the study were recruited from the University of Hamburg. They were tested in both hungry and full states after fasting overnight. When in a hungry state, they paid more attention to the taste of food and made quicker decisions, often ignoring nutritional labels. This study builds on previous research that shows hunger increases the allure of high-calorie foods. The study's authors, Jennifer March and Sebastian Gluth, indicate that this tendency is likely rooted in evolutionary factors. While processed, high-calorie foods are more available today, the brain still rewards the consumption of these foods due to biological drives. The researchers suggest that simply providing nutritional information may not be enough to promote healthier choices when people are hungry. They recommend making health information more visually noticeable to help combat these instincts. Future research could expand on these findings outside of laboratory settings, focusing on how hunger influences choices in stores or restaurants. The ultimate goal is to develop strategies that help people choose healthier options even when they are hungry.