Research versus intuition
A recent study claims that lonely women are more likely to crave sweet food. Media posts often start with "research tells us," and the latest one to hit the front page was “Loneliness prompts craving for cake in women.” Do we really need a study to tell us this?
Why Do We Trust Research More Than Our Intuition?
We often hear that diets must be grounded in scientific evidence, and yet, as women, we frequently find that these research-backed plans don’t match our own experiences. While studies offer valuable information, they can’t fully capture the complex relationship we have with food, emotions, and our bodies.
Take the recent JAMA Network Open study, for example. The media’s oversimplification of the research—turning it into a "lonely women eat cake" headline—highlights how data can be misinterpreted. The study revealed something deeper: women experiencing loneliness showed increased brain activity in response to sweet foods, linking social isolation to changes in eating behaviours. But does this finding justify following a strict, research-driven diet plan?
The truth is, scientific research on weight loss often fails to account for the emotional, psychological, and hormonal nuances women face. By following rigid guidelines, we might ignore the more sustainable practice of intuitive eating—tuning into what our bodies are truly asking for.
No, the Study Didn’t Mention Cake
Despite the newspaper headline, there was no mention of cake in the actual study. Instead, the research used MRI scans after a 6-hour fasting period to monitor brain activity while participants were shown various food images—both sweet and savoury. While these images could have included cake, the full paper doesn’t specify this.
The findings were more nuanced: Women who reported feeling lonelier had higher body fat percentages and displayed more eating behaviours like cravings, reward-based eating, uncontrolled eating, and food addiction. The group that scored higher in loneliness showed greater brain reactivity to sweet foods but less reactivity to savoury ones.
The researchers also acknowledged that loneliness is subjective, and social isolation during the pandemic has indeed been linked to an increase in obesity and unhealthy eating behaviors.
Why Do We Need to ‘Prove’ What We Know Intuitively?
To be honest, we know that sugar fuels the brain’s reward centre and that many of us reach for certain foods when we're feeling down. Do we really need a group of researchers to confirm this?
This begs a bigger question: Why don’t we trust our own intuition? You’ve lived in your body for years—so why do we prioritize the opinions of "experts" over what our bodies are telling us? I believe it's time to tune in to ourselves more and stop relying so heavily on outside voices telling us what we should or shouldn’t eat.
Scientific Evidence Isn’t Everything
While research offers useful insights, it doesn’t always reflect the realities of our day-to-day lives. Studies don’t know your stress levels, your hormonal cycle, or how emotional connections influence your cravings. Diets based solely on scientific evidence risk stripping away the wisdom that comes from listening to your own body’s cues.
Listening to Our Bodies: A More Sustainable Approach
Learning to listen to your body first, and interpreting the signals it gives you, goes beyond simple cause and effect studies like "loneliness makes us crave sugar." Instead, it involves understanding why we feel a certain way and responding intuitively. Some days, you may crave cake for a reason; other days, you might just fancy a treat—both are okay.
Conclusion: Combining Research and Intuition
While scientific research offers valuable insights into nutrition and weight management, it doesn’t always capture the full experience of women’s health. Balancing research with intuitive eating allows us to understand our bodies more holistically, creating healthier and more sustainable relationships with food.
