People with restricted diets more likely to feel lonely: Researchers

New York: Holiday celebrations often revolve around eating, but people with restricted diets are more likely to feel lonely when they can’t share in what others are eating, researchers have found.

Across seven studies and controlled experiments, the findings found that food restrictions predicted loneliness among both children and adults.

“Despite being physically present with others, having a food restriction leaves people feeling left out because they are not able to take part in bonding over the meal,” said study lead author Kaitlin Woolley,” Assistant Professor at Cornell University in the US.

For example, in one experiment, assigning unrestricted individuals to experience a food restriction increased reported feelings of loneliness. That suggests such feelings are not driven by non-food issues or limited to picky eaters.

“We can strip that away and show that assigning someone to a restriction or not can have implications for their feeling of inclusion in the group meal,” she said.

According to the researchers, further evidence came from a survey of observers of the Jewish holiday of Passover.

When reminded during the holiday of the leavened foods they couldn’t enjoy with others, participants’ loneliness increased.

Further evidence came from a survey of observers of the Jewish holiday of Passover. When reminded during the holiday of the leavened foods they couldn’t enjoy with others, participants’ loneliness increased.

Yet, within their own similarly restricted group, they felt a stronger bond. But when restricted from sharing in the meal, people suffer “food worries,” said the researcher. (IANS)

Also Read: Good, Bad & Ugly: Tales of Bollywood Body Transformation

Also Watch: Christmas Eve celebrated with fervour, Mid Night Mass held in Guwahati