Sad Movies Make You Want To Eat More

It comes as no surprise to many that when you're feeling sad or angry, you might want to eat away the pain.

New findings published in JAMA Internal Medicine show that moviegoers watching a tearjerker are more likely to eat between 28 percent and 55 percent more popcorn goodies than other goers watching different genres.

Scientists at the Cornell Food and Brand Lab discovered that moviegoers watching sad films consumed more popcorn both in the lab and even in the mall after the film had ended, which was over the Thanksgiving holiday break. They watched the sentimental drama "Love Story," in which they consumed 28 percent more popcorn (125 versus 98 grams) than viewers who watched the comedy "Sweet Home Alabama."

The same was also true of participants who brought popcorn and watched movies. Researchers found that moviegoers who watched the sad movie "Solaris," ate an average of 55 percent more popcorn (127 versus 82 grams) than those who watched the much happier film "My Big Fat Greek Wedding."

"With action movies, people seem to eat to the pace of the movie," co-researcher Aner Tal, of Cornell Food and Brand Lab, said in a news release. "But movies can also generate emotional eating, and people may eat to compensate for sadness."

"Keep snacks out of arms reach, ideally leave them in the kitchen and only bring to the couch what you intend to eat. It's easier to become slim by design than slim by willpower," Tal concluded.

However, adventure movies can also lead television viewers to eat more, as well.

"With action movies, people seem to eat to the pace of the movie," said Aner Tal, Ph.D., a Cornell researcher and co-author. "But movies can also generate emotional eating, and people may eat to compensate for sadness."

Eating in front of a screen is typically never a good idea.

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