Have you ever watched a TV commercial for pizza? The cheese bubbles, the crust glows golden, and you can nearly smell the aroma. Suddenly your mouth is watering and you’re craving pizza like crazy! Maybe you even call up the local ristorante for a delivery.
If you react like this to a food commercial, you might have EFS.
New research shows that some people are very sensitive to food signals – seeing it, smelling it, talking about it. They call it “external food sensitivity” or EFS.
A group of people were tested for feelings of hunger before and after viewing images of appetizing food and nonfood images. After viewing the food images, those with higher EFS felt much hungrier than the others. Brain scans showed how the sight of food (external cues) signaled the desire for a reward and made these individuals think they were hungry.
If nothing else, this study shows that some people are hungrier – or think they are hungrier – than others and have to work harder to control overeating.
If you have high EFS, remember the old saying:
“Hear no evil…” (don’t listen to your friend’s description of the chocolate cheese cake she ate for dessert)
“See no evil…” (don’t watch cooking shows or food channels)
Say no evil…” (Don’t talk about Mama’s pecan pie).
And the next time someone mentions your weight, say with great seriousness, “Well, I have EFS.”
