Do you feel that irresistible urge to snack after a stressful day? Before dipping your hand into a bag of chips, pick up your phone instead. A scientific study reveals that a simple gesture could be a formidable weapon against food urges.
Social support to calm food cravings
Researchers have looked at the effects of social support in the regulation of eating urges. For this study, 138 young adults were recruited and divided into four distinct groups, each benefiting from a different form of support:
- A first group received support from a friend;
- A second group, that of an unknown person;
- A third group followed instructions to better self-regulate;
- A final group did not benefit from any particular support.
The protocol was precise: after an assessment of stress, hunger and emotional state, participants were confronted with a stressful situation – a public speech – before receiving the planned support. They then had to choose between different foods, more or less caloric.
The results are clear: call your friends
The researchers observed a striking phenomenon: participants supported by a friend felt much less stress than the others. As a result, they chose smaller, lower calorie portions. The authors of the study insist: “Receiving social support from friends can alleviate emotional and eating problems, which in turn can prevent certain conditions“.
Although further research must confirm these results on a larger sample, this discovery opens promising perspectives for the prevention of obesity and eating disorders.
The next time you feel like snacking, try this simple method: call a friend. A pleasant conversation might be enough to ease your stress – and keep you away from temptations.