The next time your friend blames a cranky mood or foggy brain on skipping lunch, you can politely call their bluff. A sweeping new study published in the American Psychological Association’s Psychological Bulletin challenges one of pop culture’s most enduring health myths — that hunger dulls your mind or makes you “hangry.”
The Myth of ‘Hangry’
Researchers from the University of Auckland and Paris Lodron University Salzburg analyzed 71 studies involving more than 3,400 healthy adults to test whether going without food really affects brain power. The result? Not much. Whether people fasted for 12 hours or ate recently, their memory, attention, decision-making, and reaction times remained remarkably stable.
“Across a broad range of tasks, cognitive performance remained consistent,” said lead author Dr. David Moreau to Daily Mail, who co-authored the report titled “Acute Effects of Fasting on Cognitive Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” “Our findings contradict the widespread assumption that fasting inherently compromises thinking ability.”
Science Bites Back
The phrase “you’re not you when you’re hungry” might work for a chocolate bar ad, but science says your brain copes just fine without constant snacks. The study found that during fasting, the body efficiently switches to an alternate energy source — ketones produced from fat stores — keeping the brain sharp. This metabolic flexibility, researchers note, is likely an evolutionary advantage that helped humans survive periods without food.
Interestingly, cognitive dips were noticed only when tasks involved food-related stimuli — like looking at pictures of food or processing words about eating. “Hunger might make us more distracted by food cues,” the study observed, “but overall thinking stays steady.”
When Fasting Really Does Matter
Children, however, told a different story. Younger participants showed mild declines in attention and memory while fasting — echoing previous research underscoring the importance of breakfast for school performance. “Kids’ developing brains are more energy-sensitive,” Dr. Moreau explained. “Adults, on the other hand, show little to no change.”
The analysis also revealed that brain performance may dip slightly after very long fasting periods — beyond 12 hours — but not to levels that impair everyday function.
The Body’s Smart Switch
Far from being a mental hazard, short-term fasting might actually help the body. The report notes that fasting triggers beneficial metabolic shifts, activating cellular repair processes and promoting longevity. “Fasting allows the body to reset, and our brains seem surprisingly well adapted to it,” said co-author Christoph Bamberg of the University of Salzburg.
So, next time you or your friend get “hangry,” remember: the irritability might be psychological, not physiological. As Dr. Moreau summed up, “Missing a meal doesn’t make you less sharp — it just makes you think more about food.”
The findings, published in Psychological Bulletin by the American Psychological Association, offer a refreshing scientific twist on a familiar saying: hunger doesn’t cloud your mind — it just messes with your mood.
The Myth of ‘Hangry’
Researchers from the University of Auckland and Paris Lodron University Salzburg analyzed 71 studies involving more than 3,400 healthy adults to test whether going without food really affects brain power. The result? Not much. Whether people fasted for 12 hours or ate recently, their memory, attention, decision-making, and reaction times remained remarkably stable.
“Across a broad range of tasks, cognitive performance remained consistent,” said lead author Dr. David Moreau to Daily Mail, who co-authored the report titled “Acute Effects of Fasting on Cognitive Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” “Our findings contradict the widespread assumption that fasting inherently compromises thinking ability.”
Science Bites Back
The phrase “you’re not you when you’re hungry” might work for a chocolate bar ad, but science says your brain copes just fine without constant snacks. The study found that during fasting, the body efficiently switches to an alternate energy source — ketones produced from fat stores — keeping the brain sharp. This metabolic flexibility, researchers note, is likely an evolutionary advantage that helped humans survive periods without food.
Interestingly, cognitive dips were noticed only when tasks involved food-related stimuli — like looking at pictures of food or processing words about eating. “Hunger might make us more distracted by food cues,” the study observed, “but overall thinking stays steady.”
When Fasting Really Does Matter
Children, however, told a different story. Younger participants showed mild declines in attention and memory while fasting — echoing previous research underscoring the importance of breakfast for school performance. “Kids’ developing brains are more energy-sensitive,” Dr. Moreau explained. “Adults, on the other hand, show little to no change.”
The analysis also revealed that brain performance may dip slightly after very long fasting periods — beyond 12 hours — but not to levels that impair everyday function.
The Body’s Smart Switch
Far from being a mental hazard, short-term fasting might actually help the body. The report notes that fasting triggers beneficial metabolic shifts, activating cellular repair processes and promoting longevity. “Fasting allows the body to reset, and our brains seem surprisingly well adapted to it,” said co-author Christoph Bamberg of the University of Salzburg.
So, next time you or your friend get “hangry,” remember: the irritability might be psychological, not physiological. As Dr. Moreau summed up, “Missing a meal doesn’t make you less sharp — it just makes you think more about food.”
The findings, published in Psychological Bulletin by the American Psychological Association, offer a refreshing scientific twist on a familiar saying: hunger doesn’t cloud your mind — it just messes with your mood.
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