Difficult economic times can cause people to gain weight, according to a new study published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
A study found that a perception of tough times ahead, makes people more likely to seek higher calorie foods. Those faced with recession-like scenarios consumed almost 70 per cent more - but eat 25 per cent less of a product they thought was low-calorie.
It's down to a 'survival instinct' that makes us seek a more energy-rich diet if we think resources are scarce, reports journal Psychological Science.
"The findings of this study come at a time when our country is slowly recovering from the onslaught of negative presidential campaign ads chalked with topics such as the weak economy, gun violence, war, deep political divides, just to name a few problem areas," said Professor Juliano Laran.
"Now that we know this sort of messaging causes people to seek out more calories out of a survival instinct, it would be wise for those looking to kick off a healthier new year to tune out news for a while."
Several studies were conducted as part of the research. In the first one, the researchers invited study subjects to join in a taste test for a new kind of M&M. Half the participants were given a bowl of the new candy and were told that the secret ingredient was a new, high-calorie chocolate.
The other half of the participants also received a bowl of M&Ms but were told the new chocolate was low-calorie. All of the participants were told that they could sample the product in order to complete a taste test evaluation form.
"It is clear from the studies that taste was not what caused the reactions, it was a longing for calories," continued Laran. "These findings could have positive implications for individuals in the health care field, government campaigns on nutrition, and companies promoting wellness. And, certainly beware of savvy food marketers bearing bad news."
