Craving and colour: How do individual characteristics, food and tableware colours interact to influence food craving?

The craving to eat is a complex phenomenon influenced by biological, psychological, and environmental factors. This study investigates the impact of colour on the craving to eat, considering individual factors such as gender, age, body mass index (BMI), and dieting status. The study involved 702 adult participants from two major cities in Turkey who completed questionnaires assessing their craving to eat and their perceptions of various food and tableware colours. The results indicated that women, young adults, individuals with obesity, and those on a diet tend to have a higher craving to eat. The study also found that the colours of food and tableware can significantly affect the craving to eat. For instance, red food increased the craving to eat, while black and grey foods decreased it. Black tableware increased the craving to eat, while yellow and green tableware decreased it. The effect of colour on the craving to eat also varied depending on gender, age, BMI, and dieting status. The study concludes that the craving to eat is a multifaceted phenomenon and that colour plays a significant role in influencing it. The findings of this study have important implications for the development of strategies to promote healthy eating habits and manage weight. The study also highlights the need for further research to understand the complex relationship between colour and eating behaviour.