Buzz
Despite being considered a dull emotion, boredom holds significant power. It's often linked to motivating factors behind crime and violence, particularly among younger individuals. One of boredom's more unfortunate effects is the tendency to drive people straight to the snack drawer, pantry, or freezer. A recent study conducted by scientists reveals that the discomfort boredom creates pushes us toward foods that stimulate dopamine, especially sweet or fatty options. The findings were shared this week at the Annual Conference of the British Psychological Society.
A team of researchers from the University of Central Lancaster in the UK carried out two experiments to understand how our outdated reward systems react to boredom. In the first experiment, 52 participants were asked to repeatedly copy a series of letters. Once they were thoroughly bored, the researchers gave them a questionnaire about their favorite foods.
In the second experiment, participants watched one of two videos in a room stocked with both healthy and unhealthy snacks. One video was humorous, while the other was incredibly dull.
As expected, participants in the first experiment showed a greater preference for junk food over healthy options on their questionnaires after completing the tedious letter-copying task. Potato chips, sweets, and fast food were the top choices. (Interestingly, these are also among the most addictive foods, which trigger the brain's reward center.)
Similarly, individuals in the boring video group consumed significantly more unhealthy foods than those who watched something engaging.
Researcher Sandi Mann was not surprised by the findings, which “align with earlier studies suggesting that we crave fatty and sugary foods when we're bored,” she said in a press statement. “This supports the idea that boredom is linked to low dopamine levels in the brain, and people attempt to boost it by consuming fat and sugar when they can’t relieve their boredom otherwise.”
Our bodies, including our brains, have evolved to ensure we prioritize survival activities like eating, sheltering, and reproducing. When we engage in these vital activities, our bodies release feel-good chemicals like dopamine and serotonin as rewards for doing what's necessary for survival.
Sadly, what was essential and beneficial for our ancient ancestors may not serve us well today. The fats and sugars that were once rare and highly prized by cave dwellers are now abundantly available in nearly every processed food. And when we indulge in these foods, as we frequently do, our brains reward us.
"Those who design health education campaigns to promote healthier food choices must consider boredom, including workplace boredom," Mann stated. "Bored individuals are not reaching for nuts."
