Researchers at a U.S. university have uncovered a simple yet effective strategy to tame cravings for sugary and fatty snacks. Their study demonstrates that a brief 25-second wait can significantly reduce the desire for unhealthy foods, steering choices toward healthier alternatives.
To test this, the team equipped a vending machine dubbed DISC (Delays to Influence Snack Choices) with snacks split into two groups: healthy options and less healthy ones like crisps and candy bars. Healthy items dispensed immediately, while unhealthy selections required a 25-second delay. The wait eroded impulse, leading participants to rethink their picks.
Positioned alongside standard vending machines on campus, the DISC machine boosted healthy snack sales by 5% compared to the others.
The findings suggest that time-based nudges can encourage better diets without relying on financial measures like taxes on sodas or fatty foods. As one researcher explained, it's akin to everyday habits—a slow elevator often prompts people to take the stairs.
The team envisions expanding this approach, such as expediting checkouts for shoppers with carts full of fruits and vegetables.
Fighting extra pounds with a dash of patience? Science says yes.
