My bagel addiction has been well established on this blog. It is an unshakeable constant in my life, despite several attempts to kick the habit. But what if there were a new way to ditch the delicious carb-filled morning staple? There might just be.
A new study, "Harnessing the power of disgust: a randomized trial to reduce high-calorie food appeal through implicit priming" by researchers from the University at Colorado Medical School shows that "(implicit priming) IP can be used to alter high-calorie food preferences, which could promote healthier eating habits."
Simply put, we can be grossed out of eating high calorie foods.
Food choices often rely on automatic decision-making processes without lengthy consideration of nutritional value, calories, or health impact. For example, most grocery store decisions are made in a matter of seconds, with an estimated 40% of all money spent consisting of impulsive rather than planned purchases.
The researchers sought to exploit this impulsive behavior by establishing a negative association between the foods we buy impulsively, with things that typically gross us out. Think bugs on food.
Figure 2 : Experimental Design
Though it is a small study, they reported significant differences between the group treated with negative associations, to those who were not. This study reminds me a little bit of the Matrix, where people could be loaded with skills and knowledge. How cool would it be to sit in a chair, and an hour later no longer have a desire for chicken wings and french fries.
If the authors of this research finds this post, I'd glady sign up for the next trial. I am desperate to conquer my bagel addiction.
We could totally do this. We just need a bell jar and a bagel with cream cheese from Dunkin. Then we put the bagel in the jar (presumably with a padlock on it, to start) and watch what happens! If we keep it on the counter or maybe as the centerpiece in the dining room, we’ll have daily reminders of how gross bagels are. It’s like a terrarium, but more active!