Hungry people are more likely to choose foods that are to their left, Italian scientists from the University of Bari found out.
They tested their version of the “right and left” choice on two variations of the same online menu in groups of hungry and full people.
A total of 192 participants completed the version with healthy foods on the right, with unhealthy foods on the left, and 194 participants completed the mirror version (unhealthy on the right/healthy on the left) of the same survey.
The scientists found no significant difference in the choice of healthy (or unhealthy) foods when displayed on the left and right menu pages: this null result of the difference in choice was for satiated participants who chose to eat the item later.
In contrast, hungry participants who preferred to eat the product right away gravitated toward healthy foods much more often when they were placed on the left page compared to the right.
The researchers suggest that a difference in how food is displayed or placed on an ordering menu may help people make fewer unconscious, impulsive unhealthy food choices, thereby improving their health.
Previously, scientists have found that if necessary, reduce the daily calorie intake should be eaten in silence.