Food Cues Boost Cravings, but Not Pleasure

Food-related cues interfering with our natural hunger signals, says study

Photo by Tim Boyle/Getty Images

Food cues, like smelling French fries or seeing photos of them on a menu display, can amp up our hunger and cravings, but not our enjoyment, says a recent study.“Food-related cues can make people want or crave food more, but don’t have as much of an impact on their liking, or the pleasure they get from eating the food,” said Michelle Joyner, a psychology graduate student at the University of Michigan and the study’s lead author.The study involved 112 college participants, who disclosed their weight, race, gender, and other demographics. All were randomly assigned to a fast-food laboratory—designed like an actual restaurant with tables, chairs, booths, and low background music—or a neutral lab.

Participants, who ate lunch one hour before the study’s trial, could receive tokens to acquire foods typically available at fast-food restaurants, such as cheeseburgers, French fries, milkshakes, and soft drinks. Tokens could also buy time for an alternate activity, such as playing video games on a tablet. Both the food and game choices appeared on large TV screens.