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Why do we turn to comfort food? A survey of 1,203 adults offers clues (opens in a new tab)

news-medical.net · 2026-10-29

Short answerEvidenceSource

Short answer

Mostly supported

Mostly supported.

The claims we could check match the study, but some claims were not covered by the evidence reviewed.

  • 4 supported
  • 1 not covered

Checked against the study summary. The full text wasn't available, so some details couldn't be settled either way.

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1
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NewsLink checks it

Mostly supported

Every claim we could check holds up. Four of five claims match the study. This overall rating is based only on the claims we could check. One claim the study doesn't address.

  • 4 supported
  • 1 not covered
Open claim evidence
3
Then inspect each claim

Evidence layer

Claim by claim

Each claim gets a verdict. Expand it to see the evidence directly below.

5 claims in this story

Showing all 5 claimsChoose a verdict to focus the list.

Claim 1 of 5Not coveredParticipants, on average, expected HFSS foods to elicit more positive emotions than non-HFSS foods, but branding did not consistently increase these expectations.View evidenceHide evidence

As statedsmall effects

Why this verdict

At abstract depth, the paper profile supports only a specific reported contrast: branded HFSS items elicited stronger positive expectancies than generic non-HFSS items, with a small effect. The broader story framing that HFSS foods generally elicited more positive emotions than non-HFSS foods, and that branding did not consistently increase expectations, depends on contrasts not detailed in the abstract-level profile.

1

Study evidence

Branded HFSS items elicited stronger positive emotional expectancies than generic non-HFSS items in multilevel analysis.b = 0.10 (se = 0.04), p = 0.02

“A representative sample of UK adults (n 1203; Mage = 47 years; 52 % women; 87 % white) viewed food and non-alcoholic beverage images and completed the Anticipated Effects of Food Scale-Brief”
2

Study evidence

Multilevel regression showed participants more strongly expected branded HFSS items (e.g., Cadbury Twirl) than generic non-HFSS items (e.g., prawn curry) to produce positive emotions.b = 0.10, se = 0.04, p = 0.02, 95% CI (0.02, 0.18)

“conducted multilevel modelling to test influences of HFSS and branding on expectancies”
Claim 2 of 5SupportedResearchers conducted a cross-sectional analysis to examine associations between food-related emotional expectations, diet quality, and comfort eating among UK adults.View evidenceHide evidence

Why this verdict

The abstract-level profile describes a cross-sectional UK adult survey examining correlations between food-related emotional expectancies, diet quality, and comfort eating. The claim is framed associationally and does not imply causality.

1

Study evidence

Greater positive emotional expectancies for HFSS foods (branded and generic) were associated with poorer diet quality in UK adults.rs = -0.14 to -0.19 (p < .001) for item-level HFSS foods (ice cream sundaes, fizzy drinks, chocolate).

“completed ... a food frequency questionnaire”
2

Study evidence

Greater positive expectancies for HFSS foods and greater negative expectancies for HFSS and non-HFSS foods were associated with more frequent comfort eating in the UK adult sample.r = 0.08 to 0.30

“completed ... questions about comfort eating”
Claim 3 of 5SupportedThe analyses identified small associations between positive expectancies for HFSS foods and poorer diet quality and more frequent comfort eating.View evidenceHide evidence

As statedsmall associations

Why this verdict

The profile reports modest negative correlations between positive HFSS expectancies and diet quality, and positive correlations between positive HFSS expectancies and more frequent comfort eating. The story’s associational and small-effect framing is consistent with the reported rs ranges, especially for diet quality and lower comfort-eating correlations.

1

Study evidence

Greater positive emotional expectancies for HFSS foods (branded and generic) were associated with poorer diet quality in UK adults.rs = -0.14 to -0.19 (p < .001) for item-level HFSS foods (ice cream sundaes, fizzy drinks, chocolate).

“completed ... a food frequency questionnaire”
2

Study evidence

Greater positive expectancies for HFSS foods and greater negative expectancies for HFSS and non-HFSS foods were associated with more frequent comfort eating in the UK adult sample.r = 0.08 to 0.30

“completed ... questions about comfort eating”
Claim 4 of 5SupportedThe study sample comprised 1,203 UK adults, and the researchers assessed dietary and sociodemographic data alongside responses to food images to examine how branding and nutritional classification related to anticipated emotional effects.View evidenceHide evidence

As stated1,203 adults

Why this verdict

The paper profile reports a representative UK adult sample of n=1,203 who viewed food and non-alcoholic beverage images, completed expectancy ratings, and provided food-frequency questionnaire data; demographics such as age, sex, and ethnicity are also reported. The profile also describes analyses of HFSS status and branding in relation to anticipated positive emotional effects.

1

Study evidence

Branded HFSS items elicited stronger positive emotional expectancies than generic non-HFSS items in multilevel analysis.b = 0.10 (se = 0.04), p = 0.02

“A representative sample of UK adults (n 1203; Mage = 47 years; 52 % women; 87 % white) viewed food and non-alcoholic beverage images and completed the Anticipated Effects of Food Scale-Brief”
2

Study evidence

Multilevel regression showed participants more strongly expected branded HFSS items (e.g., Cadbury Twirl) than generic non-HFSS items (e.g., prawn curry) to produce positive emotions.b = 0.10, se = 0.04, p = 0.02, 95% CI (0.02, 0.18)

“conducted multilevel modelling to test influences of HFSS and branding on expectancies”
Claim 5 of 5SupportedThe researchers cautioned that the study was cross-sectional, relied on self-reported responses to food photographs, did not measure actual mood changes after eating, and could not establish cause and effect.View evidenceHide evidence

Why this verdict

The paper profile’s limitations include the cross-sectional observational design, inability to infer causality, image-based self-report expectancy ratings, and the fact that these measures do not establish actual in-the-moment mood changes or eating behaviour. The story accurately presents these as cautions rather than causal findings.

1

Study evidence

Multilevel regression showed participants more strongly expected branded HFSS items (e.g., Cadbury Twirl) than generic non-HFSS items (e.g., prawn curry) to produce positive emotions.b = 0.10, se = 0.04, p = 0.02, 95% CI (0.02, 0.18)

“conducted multilevel modelling to test influences of HFSS and branding on expectancies”
2

Study evidence

Greater positive emotional expectancies for HFSS foods (branded and generic) were associated with poorer diet quality in UK adults.rs = -0.14 to -0.19 (p < .001) for item-level HFSS foods (ice cream sundaes, fizzy drinks, chocolate).

“completed ... a food frequency questionnaire”
Then look for missing context

Context layer

What the story left out

Important study details the story did not include.

  • Specific high-positive-expectancy items included ice cream sundaes, fizzy drinks, and chocolate.

    The story summarizes HFSS foods generally but does not report the named food and beverage categories highlighted in the abstract-level profile.

    From cross-sectional image-rating survey

  • Authors’ interpretive implication that targeting positive HFSS expectancies through policy or behavioural programmes may improve diet quality and reduce comfort eating.

    The story focuses on the observational findings and caveats; it does not appear to report the paper’s policy/behavioural-programme implication.

    From Interpretation of observational findings / policy recommendation framing

  • Sample demographics were majority white, which may limit generalisability to more diverse populations.

    The paper profile reports the sample was 87% white and lists this as a generalisability limitation. The story caveats supplied do not mention this limitation.

    From cross-sectional image-rating survey; Cross-sectional, image-based expectancy survey with multilevel regression; cross-se

7 things the story did carry across
  • Representative UK adult cross-sectional sample of 1,203 participants who rated anticipated emotional effects of pictured foods and non-alcoholic beverages.
  • Multilevel modelling tested HFSS status and branding effects on positive emotional expectancies; the abstract-level profile reports a small branded-HFSS versus generic-non-HFSS contrast.
  • Greater positive expectancies for HFSS foods were associated with poorer diet quality derived from a food-frequency questionnaire.
  • Greater positive HFSS expectancies and greater negative expectancies for HFSS and non-HFSS foods were associated with more frequent comfort eating, with negative expectancies reaching stronger correlations.
  • Cross-sectional design prevents causal inference about expectancies causing poorer diet quality or comfort eating.
  • Expectancy, comfort-eating, and diet-related measures relied on self-report, including image-based expectancy ratings and FFQ-derived diet quality.
  • Actual mood changes after eating and observed eating behaviour were not measured.
Then read the study layer

Study layer

Study at a glance

Scan the study first. Expand only the parts you want to inspect.

Pieces of work

5

Evidence read

study summary

Lead result

human in vivo

1Lead resulthuman in vivoTest whether image characteristics—HFSS status and branding (branded vs generic)—influence positive emotional expectancies for foods/beverages (multilevel modeling).Cross-sectional, image-based expectancy survey with multilevel regressionExpand

In plain English

In a representative cross-sectional survey of UK adults (n = 1,203), the authors used image-based expectancy ratings and multilevel regression to test whether HFSS status and branding (branded vs generic) influence positive emotional expectancies for foods/beverages. The main reported comparison showed that participants more strongly expected branded HFSS items (e.g., Cadbury Twirl) versus generic non-HFSS items (e.g., prawn curry) to produce positive emotions (b = 0.10, se = 0.04, p = 0.02, 95% CI 0.02–0.18).

Key findings

  • Multilevel regression showed participants more strongly expected branded HFSS items (e.g., Cadbury Twirl) than generic non-HFSS items (e.g., prawn curry) to produce positive emotions.b = 0.10, se = 0.04, p = 0.02, 95% CI (0.02, 0.18)
“conducted multilevel modelling to test influences of HFSS and branding on expectancies”
What this piece can’t prove
  • Cross-sectional observational design prevents causal inference.
  • Expectancies measured to images may not reflect in-the-moment reactions or actual eating behaviour.
  • Abstract omits details on model specification (covariates, random effects), limiting assessment of potential confounding and robustness.
  • Sample demographics reported as 87% white may limit generalisability to more diverse populations.

1 further detail could not be confirmed from the summary.

2human in vivoCharacterize which foods and non-alcoholic beverages UK adults most expect will bring positive emotions (rank/describe positive emotional expectancies across viewed food/beverage images).cross-sectional image-rating surveyExpand

In plain English

A representative cross-sectional sample of UK adults (n=1203) viewed images of foods and non-alcoholic beverages and rated anticipated positive emotional effects using the Anticipated Effects of Food Scale–Brief; mean positive-expectancy ratings were ranked. Branded HFSS items elicited stronger positive expectancies than generic non-HFSS items (b = 0.10, se = 0.04, p = 0.02). Specific categories with particularly high positive expectancies included ice cream sundaes, fizzy (carbonated) drinks, and chocolate.

Key findings

  • Branded HFSS items elicited stronger positive emotional expectancies than generic non-HFSS items in multilevel analysis.b = 0.10 (se = 0.04), p = 0.02
  • Ice cream sundaes, fizzy (carbonated) drinks, and chocolate were among the items with the highest mean positive-expectancy ratings.
“A representative sample of UK adults (n 1203; Mage = 47 years; 52 % women; 87 % white) viewed food and non-alcoholic beverage images and completed the Anticipated Effects of Food Scale-Brief”
What this piece can’t prove
  • Sample was majority white (87%); generalizability to more diverse populations may be limited.
  • Cross-sectional, self-report ratings of anticipated effects; cannot infer behavioral causation from these descriptive ratings.

2 further details could not be confirmed from the summary.

3human in vivoExamine associations between food-related emotional expectancies (positive and negative; HFSS and non-HFSS) and (a) diet quality and (b) comfort eating frequency in UK adults.cross-sectional surveyExpand

In plain English

In a representative cross-sectional UK adult sample (n=1203), greater positive emotional expectancies for HFSS foods (both branded and generic), particularly for items such as ice cream sundaes, fizzy drinks and chocolate, were modestly associated with poorer diet quality derived from a food‑frequency questionnaire (reported rs = -0.14 to -0.19, p < .001).

Key findings

  • Greater positive emotional expectancies for HFSS foods (branded and generic) were associated with poorer diet quality in UK adults.rs = -0.14 to -0.19 (p < .001) for item-level HFSS foods (ice cream sundaes, fizzy drinks, chocolate).
“completed ... a food frequency questionnaire”
What this piece can’t prove
  • Cross-sectional design prevents causal inference about expectancies causing poorer diet quality.
  • Sample was majority White (87%), which may limit generalisability to more diverse populations.
  • Effect sizes reported are small-to-moderate (rs approximately -0.14 to -0.19).

1 further detail could not be confirmed from the summary.

4human in vivoExamine associations between food-related emotional expectancies (positive and negative; HFSS and non-HFSS) and (a) diet quality and (b) comfort eating frequency in UK adults.cross-sectional surveyExpand

In plain English

In a representative cross-sectional survey of UK adults (n = 1203), greater positive emotional expectancies for HFSS foods and greater negative expectancies for HFSS and non-HFSS foods were positively correlated with more frequent comfort eating; reported correlation coefficients ranged from r = 0.08 to 0.30.

Key findings

  • Greater positive expectancies for HFSS foods and greater negative expectancies for HFSS and non-HFSS foods were associated with more frequent comfort eating in the UK adult sample.r = 0.08 to 0.30
“completed ... questions about comfort eating”
What this piece can’t prove
  • Cross-sectional survey precludes causal inference between expectancies and comfort eating.
  • Both expectancies and comfort eating assessed by brief self-report measures (potential measurement limitations and common-method bias).
  • Reported associations include small effect sizes (rs near 0.08) as well as larger ones (up to 0.30).
  • Sample demographics (87% white) may limit generalisability across ethnic groups.
5otherPolicy/behavioural implication that targeting HFSS expectancies may improve diet quality and reduce comfort eating (interpretation/recommendation based on observed associations).Interpretation of observational findings / policy recommendation framingExpand

In plain English

The authors propose that targeting positive expectancies for HFSS (high fat, salt and/or sugar) foods via food-environment policy and behavioural programmes could improve diet quality and reduce comfort eating, and that adults who comfort eat may benefit from challenging negative expectancies for all foods. These recommendations are presented as interpretive implications drawn from observed cross-sectional associations in a representative UK adult sample (n = 1203) between positive HFSS expectancies and worse diet quality and more frequent comfort eating.

Key findings

  • Authors recommend targeting positive HFSS expectancies via food-environment policy and behavioural programmes to potentially improve diet quality and reduce comfort eating; additionally, they suggest challenging negative expectancies for all foods among adults who comfort eat.Associations cited in support: positive HFSS expectancies correlated with worse diet quality (rs = -0.14 to -0.19, p < .001) and with more frequent comfort eating (rs = 0.08 to 0.30, p < .05); branded HFSS items elicited stronger positive expectancies than generic non-HFSS (b = 0.10, se = 0.04, p = .02, 95% CI 0.02–0.18).
“Targeting positive HFSS expectancies through food environment policy and behavioural programmes may be a promising strategy”
What this piece can’t prove
  • Interpretive/policy implications are not experimentally evaluated in the paper and therefore cannot establish that changing expectancies will cause improved diet quality or reduced comfort eating.
  • Potential confounding and reverse causation cannot be ruled out given the observational cross-sectional design.
  • Generalisability may be limited by sample demographics (e.g., majority white) and by reliance on self-report instruments.
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Papers considered

The selected paper, plus nearby candidates.

PubMed, Europe PMC, Crossref · 15 candidate papers

Candidate

Hubungan Penggunaan Online Food Delivery, Emotional Eating, dan Kualitas Diet dengan Status Gizi Lebih

Jurnal Ilmu Gizi Dan Dietetik · 2026 · Crossref

Source (opens in a new tab)
Candidate

Diet and Nutritional Status of West African and Caribbean Adults in the United Kingdom: Perspectives to Inform Community-Based Approaches to Healthy Eating

Sustainability · 2023 · Crossref

Source (opens in a new tab)
Candidate

Diet Quality as a Key Moderator Between Emotional Intelligence and Disordered Eating Behaviors: Insights Across Young and Mature Adults

Physiology · 2025 · Crossref

Source (opens in a new tab)
Candidate

Review for "Prevalence of Emotional and Binge Eating Among Patients With Obesity Attending a Specialist Weight Management Service for Bariatric Surgery in the United Kingdom"

2024 · Crossref

Source (opens in a new tab)

And 9 more candidates considered.