#Junkfood

New scientific research sheds light on why Thais and people worldwide may reach for high-calorie snacks during periods of uncertainty: it is rooted in an ancient survival response to potential food shortages. The study, recently published in the journal Food Quality and Preference, provides experimental evidence that anticipated food scarcity powerfully shapes visual attention and cravings for junk food—a dynamic amplified by current global anxieties, economic turbulence, and pandemic aftershocks (PsyPost).

Chile’s bold efforts to curb childhood junk food consumption have sparked international attention, prompting the question: if Chile can do it, why can’t the UK—or, indeed, Thailand? The South American nation’s sweeping package of regulations, focusing on marketing and labeling, has spurred a dramatic decline in unhealthy snack intake by children. This development has brought fresh hope to public health officials worldwide grappling with rising obesity rates among the youth.

New scientific findings are shedding light on why saying “no” to junk food is so difficult—even when we know better. Recent research highlights how memories of fatty and sugary foods are actively stored in the brain’s hippocampus, creating deeply rooted cravings that are tough to resist, according to a summary by National Geographic and supported by studies from major research institutions (National Geographic; ScienceDaily). By understanding these mental food traps, Thai readers can better grasp the complex forces behind snack-time temptations and make smarter choices in everyday life.