Comfort Eating Doesn't Work Says Science: Is Completely Wrong

'Comfort eating does not work' says science, so step away from that tub you're emptying of ice cream and filling with tears.

Instead, it has discovered that most bad moods will get better on their own and food doesn't make a difference.

Er, Science, have you ever even BEEN in a bad mood?

Experiments deny food's importance

The research worked by putting 100 college students in the US in a bad mood (by the very scientific method of showing them sad clips from films) and then splitting them into groups to see how what they ate, or didn't eat, affected their mood.

And they found that it didn't really matter what they ate or if they ate at all. But as anyone who has emotionally eaten (even if you wouldn't consider yourself an 'emotional eater'), this experiment is, in our scientific opinion, complete rubbish.

Food is hugely important to us emotionally complex humans, and most women particularly will have had bouts where their relationship with it isn't the healthiest.

Whether it's restricting food as something to control in an otherwise rollercoaster life, to bonding with friends over a shared dessert or treating yourself to a take away when you've had a bad day at work, food is an important tool in our psychological make up.

Dr Pam Spurr says that around 70 per cent of women are 'emotional eaters' and that their mood can be a huge part of why healthy eating and dieting fails.

Because emotional eating isn't just having a cake when we're in a grump, it's a way to forget about problems, give yourself an instant mood boost and a fall back to deal with self esteem issues. It's certainly not about having a bar of chocolate after a sad film.

Will any food do?

The research found that eating something seen as 'comfort food' such as pizza or ice cream, did make people feel better. But equally eating something a bit healthier improved mood too. That would suggest that it's more the process of eating that cheers us up.

But then, the students' moods improved with no food as well, suggesting it's really just a case of sitting it out until you feel better.

But if you're feeling down, which are you going to reach for - a carrot or a lovely slice of Victoria sponge?

The researchers have suggested that their findings could help people manage their weight. Perhaps if someone is told a cake won't make them feel better they'll opt for nothing or a healthier option?

But surely most of us who indulge probably already know that cake won't make us feel better in the long run, though that's not going to stop us enjoying it in the moment.

David Levitsky, a professor of nutrition at Cornell University suggested that experts just really don't get it, telling NPR: “We tend to look for a magic solution to our problems.

“The idea we can feel better by simply consuming certain foods is very appealing but in actuality, feeling better has nothing to do with the food itself, and it's a very weak psychological effect."

Weak psychological effect? Has David tried Green & Blacks Chocolate Orange Ice Cream?

Case closed.