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Related Experiment Videos

Chocolate craving and the menstrual cycle.

Debra A Zellner1, Ana Garriga-Trillo, Soraya Centeno

  • 1Department of Psychology, Montclair State University, Upper Montclair, NJ 07043 USA. zellnerd@mail.montclair.edu

Appetite
|March 24, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Cultural factors, not physiology, likely drive chocolate cravings. Women in America and Spain reported cravings differently, suggesting cultural influences on when chocolate is craved.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Cultural Studies
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Chocolate craving is a common phenomenon, but its underlying causes remain debated.
  • Existing research often overlooks cultural variations in craving patterns.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate cultural differences in the timing of chocolate cravings between Spanish and American women.
  • To explore potential physiological versus cultural influences on chocolate craving patterns.

Main Methods:

  • Participants (Spanish and American women) reported usual craving times via open-ended questions.
  • Direct questions assessed perimenstrual chocolate craving.
  • Craving times were compared across cultures and genders.

Main Results:

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  • American women were significantly more likely than Spanish women to report perimenstrual chocolate cravings.
  • Non-perimenstrual cravings (e.g., after eating, studying, evening) showed cultural, not gender, differences.
  • A significant cultural variation was observed in the reporting of perimenstrual chocolate cravings.

Conclusions:

  • Findings suggest that cultural factors play a more significant role in shaping chocolate craving patterns than physiological factors.
  • The study highlights the importance of considering cultural context when examining food cravings.
  • Perimenstrual chocolate craving reporting differs significantly between American and Spanish women, indicating cultural influences.