Using distraction to manage hunger
Dieters already face an uphill battle, and studies show they pay selective attention to attractive food.
Lotte F. Van Dillen et al. in ”Turning a Blind Eye to Temptation” (2013) discovered that cognitive load can decrease the effect of temptation on both thinking and behavior. When study participants were forced to engage in mental tasks that increased cognitive load, they paid less attention to attractive stimuli.
Everyone can relate to the experience of being totally engrossed in an interesting or enjoyable task, conversation, or project, where time seems to fly by. Apparently, such conditions are also conducive to sticking to a diet plan.
Busy people often do not have an opportunity to pay attention to tempting food items because they are simply not exposed to them. They do not have time to even take a lunch break and sometimes, in the absence of food cues, do not feel hungry.
Does this idea work?
Lotte F. Van Dillen et al. in ”Turning a Blind Eye to Temptation” (2013) discovered that cognitive load can decrease the effect of temptation on both thinking and behavior. When study participants were forced to engage in mental tasks that increased cognitive load, they paid less attention to attractive stimuli.
Everyone can relate to the experience of being totally engrossed in an interesting or enjoyable task, conversation, or project, where time seems to fly by. Apparently, such conditions are also conducive to sticking to a diet plan.
Busy people often do not have an opportunity to pay attention to tempting food items because they are simply not exposed to them. They do not have time to even take a lunch break and sometimes, in the absence of food cues, do not feel hungry.
Does this idea work?
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