Food cravings can be beaten with relatively simple tricks, according to recent research.
One of the biggest barriers to weight loss is food cravings.
The effect of food cravings on weight gain may be even greater than that of genetics.
However, food cravings can be beaten, according to recent research.
Techniques such as changes in diet, exercise and even medications can all help reduce food cravings.
One tip the study revealed was that it is better to remove a food that you crave from your diet completely.
Eating a food less frequently is proven to reduce cravings for it.
Other tips for overcoming food cravings include using your imagination, going for a walk, having a large breakfast, chewing gum and using distractions.
These and more are explained in this previous article: How To Stop Food Cravings.
Dr Candice Myers, the study’s first author, said:
“Craving influences what people eat and their body weight, but there are some components of our behavior and diet that we do have control over.
Being mindful of these desires gives us more control of them.”
The conclusions come from a review of 28 studies on food cravings.
These demonstrated that losing weight itself tends to reduce food cravings.
However, exercise tends to increase food cravings.
Dr John Apolzan, study co-author, said:
“The upside of craving is that it is a conditioned response that you can unlearn.
It’s not easy, but it can be done.”
One previous study has shown that green spaces, like gardens, parks or allotments, can help people overcome food cravings.
People who experience natural spaces have reduced cravings for unhealthy foods.
Previous studies have also shown that exercising in nature reduces cravings of all different types.
Dr Myers said:
“Food craving is an important piece of the weight-loss puzzle.
It doesn’t explain weight gain 100 percent.
A number of other factors, including genetics and eating behavior, are also involved.”
The study was published in the journal Current Opinion in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Obesity (Myers et al., 2018).
