Most of us reach for comfort food when we feel stressed, bored, or down—but a recent study reveals that our motivations might not be what we think. Published in the journal Nutrients, the research highlights surprising psychological reasons why we turn to foods like chocolate, chips, or cake—and it goes far beyond just taste or pleasure.
What is comfort food, and why do we crave it?
Comfort food refers to meals or snacks that provide emotional or psychological relief. Think of rich, nostalgic favourites like ice cream, chocolate, pizza, or baked sweets. These foods are often high in fat, sugar, or both, and they tend to be closely tied to memories, culture, or routine.While it’s commonly believed that we eat comfort food simply for enjoyment, scientists suggest our motivations may be more complex. Past studies have hinted at emotional regulation or even chemical changes in the brain (like serotonin release) as potential reasons. But this new study dives deeper into the expectations people associate with comfort food and how those beliefs influence their eating behaviour.
Study reveals hidden psychological triggers behind comfort food cravings
Researchers surveyed 214 participants online to explore which foods they considered their top comfort choices, how often they consumed them, and what emotional or psychological outcomes they expected.Participants listed their primary comfort food—chocolate, crisps, and sweet baked goods were the most common. They were also asked to rank their agreement with five types of expected benefits from eating comfort food:
- Managing negative emotions
- Feeling pleasure or reward
- Enhancing cognitive performance
- Alleviating boredom
- Generating positive feelings
The study then compared these expectations with actual consumption patterns.
Boredom, not pleasure, is the top reason people eat comfort food
Although most participants believed comfort food was pleasurable and emotionally rewarding, those expectations didn’t correlate strongly with how often they indulged.Instead, people who reported eating comfort food frequently did so to alleviate boredom or boost cognitive performance. Eating due to boredom was the strongest predictor of frequent comfort eating. In fact, this motive was linked to both eating a specific comfort food more often and a broader tendency to eat comfort foods in general.On the other hand, those who expected comfort food to help with mood management or give them a reward didn’t necessarily eat it more often—highlighting a disconnect between belief and behaviour.
Comfort food and gender: Do men and women eat for different reasons?
In this study, no significant gender-based differences were found in comfort eating patterns. However, previous research has shown women tend to prefer sweet snacks like chocolate, while men lean toward meal-like foods such as burgers or pizza. Emotion regulation strategies also vary by gender, which may explain some behavioural differences in other populations.
Why understanding comfort food behaviour matters for your health
While the emotional comfort of certain foods can feel helpful in the moment, overreliance on high-calorie, low-nutrient foods can lead to long-term health issues. Understanding the real reasons behind comfort eating—especially boredom—can help individuals and health professionals create better strategies to manage these triggers.It also challenges the common narrative that people eat for pleasure alone. The truth is, emotional and cognitive demands like stress, fatigue, and mental overload may be the driving forces behind many snack-related decisions. The researchers note that more studies are needed, particularly involving real-time data and broader populations, to confirm and expand on these findings. Still, this study offers important insight into the psychology of why we eat the way we do—and what we can do to make more mindful choices.Comfort eating isn’t just about indulgence—it’s often about emotional regulation, mental stimulation, or simply filling time. Recognising the root cause (like boredom) may help people develop healthier coping strategies.Also Read: Top 10 Korean snacks you would love on a rainy day
