Behavior & Psychology

Childhood Trauma Was Linked to Later Eating Habits

Behavior problems in adolescence appeared to explain part of the connection between childhood trauma and higher ultraprocessed food intake at age 18.

Food and Drink Branding Was Everywhere During the World Cup

Researchers counted more than 65,000 appearances of food and beverage brands they classified as unhealthy during live World Cup play, though the study did not test whether those ads changed what viewers ate.

Poor Sleep in One Partner May Make Healthy Eating Harder for Both

A study of couples found that when one partner slept poorly, both people were more likely to report less healthy eating habits.

College Students May Get Enough Protein While Still Struggling to Eat Well

A University of Maine study found that students generally did well on protein intake, even as overall diet quality was low and everyday barriers made healthier eating harder.

Liking Fast Food Brands Was Linked to Higher Fat and Sugar Intake

Adults who felt more positively about familiar fast food and sugary drink brands also reported eating high fat and high sugar foods more often, even when they did not view those brands as particularly healthy.

Berkeley’s Checkout Rule Was Linked to Lower Soda Sales

A California policy that changed what stores could display near the register was linked to fewer soda and small candy purchases, though the effects varied by product and store.

Popular ‘Clean Eating’ Posts Often Promote Restrictive Food Rules

TikTok and Instagram posts often mixed nutrition advice with rigid food rules and appearance-focused messages.

Eating Disorder Risk Is Not Limited to Affluent Teens

A new review suggests lower-income and less-educated families may face equal or greater risk, challenging a stereotype that can leave some teens overlooked.

Gut Bacteria May Be Linked to Brain Chemistry in Humans

A small human study found connections between the gut microbiome and chemicals measured in different parts of the brain, offering new clues about the gut-brain connection.

Teachers Reported More Student Hunger After Free School Meals Ended

A small qualitative study in Anchorage, Alaska, found teachers noticed less participation in school meals, more hunger and more worry about meal costs after a federal universal free meal policy expired.

Some Men Say Traditional Diet Programs Don’t Feel Designed for Them

In focus groups with 24 UK men, dieting was often described as restrictive and female-focused, while simple goals, accountability and personal challenges sounded more appealing.

Busy Mornings Make a Balanced Breakfast Harder for Many Families

Most school-age children eat breakfast, but a national parent poll found that picky eating, limited time and morning moods often shape what ends up on the plate.

TikTok Food Videos May Shape What Teens Want to Eat

Teens said food videos could trigger cravings and interest in trying something new, but money, access, timing and family life often determined what happened next.

Eating Disorder Genetics Extend Beyond Body Weight

A large international study finds that anorexia nervosa and binge eating have genetic links that cannot simply be explained by a person’s weight.

More Diet App Engagement Didn’t Mean Healthier Eating

Personalized dietitian feedback kept users tracking meals, while peer comparisons sometimes pushed less healthy eaters away.

Smart Grocery Carts Were Linked to Bigger Shopping Trips

Shoppers who used digital carts spent more, bought more items and stayed in stores longer, but the study cannot show the technology caused those differences.

Meat Labels Can Come with Very Different Price Premiums

Organic, grass-fed and other specialty claims were linked to higher meat prices, but the size of the markup varied widely by product.

Brain Pathway May Help Regulate Dietary Fat Intake

When researchers disrupted a protein in appetite-regulating brain cells, mice ate more fat and gained more weight, offering clues about how the brain helps control eating.

A Sweet Tooth May Be Linked to How People Handle Uncertainty

People who preferred very sweet tastes were more likely to choose immediate rewards, but the reason may have more to do with avoiding uncertainty than impatience.

What the Research Says About Synthetic Food Dyes

As regulators and food companies move away from some synthetic dyes, the evidence points to possible behavioral effects in some children but much less certainty about other health concerns.

High Formula Costs Are Pushing Some Families Toward Unsafe Choices

A UK study of financially struggling parents found widespread debt, distress and attempts to stretch formula, though the findings do not represent all formula-feeding families.

Oral Semaglutide May Help Reduce Heavy Drinking

An eight-week clinical trial found fewer heavy drinking days among adults with alcohol use disorder, but larger and longer studies are needed before the medication could become a treatment.

Family Obesity Treatment Worked When Brought into Pediatric Care

A large randomized trial found that adding structured family treatment to enhanced pediatric care improved children’s weight trajectories, quality of life and household routines.

Alcohol Use During Pregnancy Rose Over the Past Decade

A national survey analysis found increases in reported alcohol use, binge drinking and heavy drinking among pregnant women from 2011 through 2024, though it could not determine whether drinking occurred before or after pregnancy recognition.

Gut Signals Helped Rats Remember Where They Found Food

A new animal study identified a vagus nerve pathway linking nutrients in the digestive system with food-related memory.