Even the best of us are guilty of splurging on 10 tonnes of junk food after we’ve just been dumped – but now at least researchers are saying it’s science’s fault.
What’s actually happening when you reach for that unhealthy indulgence (cough, a whole block of Cadbury Top Deck chocolate, cough) is a phenomenon psychologists call ‘hedonic consumption’.
It’s very normal and we do it all the time – but it gets a lot worse when we’re sad.
Professor Nitika Garg, a researcher at the UNSW Business School, says moments of sadness, like a break up, often lead to “over consumption” – using things we like as a kind of therapy (shopping sprees are also a common strategy).
The good news? Professor Garg says when people experiencing this phenomenon are made aware of their over-consumption, they tend to stop pretty quickly.
But unfortunately, while it’s definitely better for your body, stopping your splurge won’t take care of the yucky emotions, says Professor Gard – you still need to find another outlet.
Well in that case, excuse me while I get back to eating my chocolate.
