Children control the craving for sweet food better than adults

According to new research by Columbia University scientists, compared to adults, children are more likely to be attracted to sweets and fast food, but children are also more likely to learn to control their appetite. that kind of food.

Columbia University psychologist and postdoctoral researcher, Jennifer A. Silvers, said the results of this study are important because they show us "there may be another way to combat the disease. obesity in children ".

In fact, this study is very special because other studies of the same owner to show that children are obese are influenced by advertising as well as the availability of sweets and high-fat foods, and focus on it's hard for the surroundings to change, instead of considering whether each child can control the consumption of those foods themselves.

Photo: Daily Mail

"Intervention in the environment is of course important, but it's hard to avoid contact with sweets. If children from 6 years of age can learn how to apply a cognitive strategy to limit sweet food, so called intervention, " Silvers said.

The researchers worked with research subjects aged 6-23 years, and scanned their MRI brains while showing them images of a wide range of delicious but unhealthy foods.

While watching the picture, they were also asked to imagine the food in front of them as well as imagining them smelling, tasting and eating them. Next, the researchers asked them to focus on imagining the shape and color of the dish instead of the taste.

After measuring the appetite levels of the subjects, the researchers concluded that imagining food without focusing on imagining flavors reduced appetite by 16%. This may be a cognitive strategy to self-control these foods.

Analysis of brain scans shows that children generally crave these foods more than adults. This reaction is thought to be related to a pre-developmental cortical region responsible for restraining itself. Due to childhood, when the prefrontal cortex was formed, as well as knowing that the ability to control itself could be trained, the researchers were happy with the result and would not hesitate to test it.

"We believe that this study is meaningful to many people, from those who seek to intervene to reduce childhood obesity to parents and pediatricians seeking to raise and care. Children are healthier and happier, " says Silvers.

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