Bad Appetite

Have you ever felt like some part of your body was…not really yours? Maybe your insular cortex is to blame.

Obese people love food, while those with anorexia hate it, right? Some new brain imaging results suggest it might not be that simple.

Why is Bella so obsessed with Edward? It's probably something to do with dopamine.

Relationships

Can Your Brain Get Obese With Love?

Susan Carnell Ph.D. on February 14, 2012

Are you in a long-term relationship? Have you noticed the passion fading lately? Maybe your love-brain’s getting a little…flabby.

Are you in a long-term relationship? Have you noticed the passion fading lately? Maybe your love-brain’s getting a little…flabby.

How much do you weigh? Are you sure about that? It turns out that most people - and some more than others - are unspeakably bad at telling the truth about their weight.

Feeling sad can disrupt your appetite in surprising ways.

You really should get started on that essay—but maybe you'll just check the fridge first. Why is it that we eat out of boredom?

Gobble Day is here. Are you preparing to stuff yourself? Or already lying on the sofa clutching your food baby? The truth is that Thanksgiving dinner is structured in such a way that even the most bird-like eater is likely to overindulge.

Eating is generally unlikely to kill you. But this doesn’t necessarily stop preschoolers, dieters and people with anorexia being afraid of it. Two behavioral therapy tools may help alleviate food-related fright: exposure, and response prevention.

Some of the most enjoyable meals I have ever consumed have taken place late at night. But the unfortunate truth is that our bodies aren't well adapted for eating at night-time.

Diet

The Think-Free Diet

Susan Carnell Ph.D. on May 31, 2011

Thinking about food is fun. But evidence suggests that thinking about it all the time can be distracting, brain-draining – and in some cases a potent recipe for unhappiness.

Thinking about food is fun. But evidence suggests that thinking about it all the time can be distracting, brain-draining – and in some cases a potent recipe for unhappiness.

On Friday afternoon, my (mostly American) coworkers asked me for my honest opinion about the Royal Wedding. Since attending my friends’ fabulous wedding-related gathering I now realize that by far the most important thing about it was the opportunity to indulge in a glorious nationwide orgy of Party Food Nostalgia.

Behavioral Economics

Want to be rich and thin?

Susan Carnell Ph.D. on March 29, 2011

It is a truth universally acknowledged that people like money. And they really, really hate losing it. So, if you’re keen to quit your junk-food habit, flatter me by doing the following thought experiment. What if the next time you gave into temptation you knew you also had to hand over $1000 of your hard-earned cash?

It is a truth universally acknowledged that people like money. And they really, really hate losing it. So, if you’re keen to quit your junk-food habit, flatter me by doing the following thought experiment. What if the next time you gave into temptation you knew you also had to hand over $1000 of your hard-earned cash?

Diet

Lovesick? Or heartbroken? The diet starts today.

Susan Carnell Ph.D. on February 14, 2011

It's Valentine's Day - the only day of the year specially dedicated to the celebration of love and romance. But does being love-struck make you slim and gorgeous, or transform you into a big ball of loved-up blubber? Research suggests it's a bit of both.

It's Valentine's Day - the only day of the year specially dedicated to the celebration of love and romance. But does being love-struck make you slim and gorgeous, or transform you into a big ball of loved-up blubber? Research suggests it's a bit of both.

Dreaming

Dreaming of dinner? Let your mind go wild.

Susan Carnell Ph.D. on January 31, 2011

Do you occasionally get an overwhelming desire to stuff your face with something you shouldn’t? Food cravings can be difficult to vanquish. But new research suggests you may be able to beat them simply by using your imagination...

Do you occasionally get an overwhelming desire to stuff your face with something you shouldn’t? Food cravings can be difficult to vanquish. But new research suggests you may be able to beat them simply by using your imagination...

Sleep

Zzzzz… How getting more sleep could help you lose weight

Susan Carnell Ph.D. on November 11, 2010

Ever get the feeling you're [stifled yawn] just not getting enough sleep? The impact of sleep deprivation on our mental faculties is well known. But now it looks like being chronically sleep-poor might make us stout as well as stupid.

Ever get the feeling you're [stifled yawn] just not getting enough sleep? The impact of sleep deprivation on our mental faculties is well known. But now it looks like being chronically sleep-poor might make us stout as well as stupid.

Diet

Sweet tooth? How your taste buds affect your weight.

Susan Carnell Ph.D. on August 31, 2010

Sweet tooth? Personally, I think I might have a salty one. Candy bars can sit in my fridge untouched for eons while a nice wedge of gouda disappears in a matter of seconds. But why do we all have such different taste preferences?

Sweet tooth? Personally, I think I might have a salty one. Candy bars can sit in my fridge untouched for eons while a nice wedge of gouda disappears in a matter of seconds. But why do we all have such different taste preferences?

Diet

Hot and Hungry? How Cooling Off Could Slim You Down

Susan Carnell Ph.D. on July 20, 2010

It is really, really hot in New York at the moment. But what are the effects of this ambient heat on body weight? Can you really sweat out calories?

It is really, really hot in New York at the moment. But what are the effects of this ambient heat on body weight? Can you really sweat out calories?

Diet

Smile! You’re on <candy> camera.

Susan Carnell Ph.D. on April 19, 2010

Has anyone ever served you something so beautiful that it seemed a crime to ruin its appearance by consuming it? Try photographing it. It could help you lose weight.

Has anyone ever served you something so beautiful that it seemed a crime to ruin its appearance by consuming it? Try photographing it. It could help you lose weight.

Alcoholism

Eat me, drink me

Susan Carnell Ph.D. on February 14, 2010

Models stay slim by eating nothing but celery sticks, right? Apparently not: the rabbit food is frequently washed down with large volumes of calorie-packed alcoholic drinks. ‘Drink more, stay thin' is a terrible public health message. But the awkward fact remains that alcohol (per se) doesn't make you nearly as fat as you might expect.

Models stay slim by eating nothing but celery sticks, right? Apparently not: the rabbit food is frequently washed down with large volumes of calorie-packed alcoholic drinks. ‘Drink more, stay thin' is a terrible public health message. But the awkward fact remains that alcohol (per se) doesn't make you nearly as fat as you might expect.