If you are making an important decision, better have a snack beforehand. UK scientists discovered that people are making poor choices when hungry.

The choice is your stomach’s?

Most grownups have come to the realization that going to a supermarket to shop for food hungry results in overspending and bringing home too much groceries, which often then go to the bin spoiled.

But hunger can also affect the way you make important decisions not related to food.

In a recent research, participants were offered rewards, which were substantially larger if the person was ready to wait. Hungry people didn’t seem to see the benefit in waiting and getting more later, as compared to getting some cash quick.

Settling for a smaller reward on an empty stomach could happen when a person makes an important financial or interpersonal decision that can impact many spheres of his or her life.

In the experiment, people were asked questions when they had just eaten or after a few hours of having nothing to eat. People’s decision-making process was substantially different, depending on whether they were hungry or satiated.

50 people were tested to check the difference in the decision–making process.

• Non-hungry people were willing to wait for 35 days to maximize the reward.
• But participants with empty stomachs agreed to wait for only 3 days.

The reward was twice as high if the people were prepared to wait.

Psychologist Benjamin Vincent explained, “We wanted to know whether being in a state of hunger had a specific effect on how you make decisions only relating to food or if it had broader effects, and this research suggests decision-making gets more present-focused when people are hungry.”

So, remember that when you are making decisions — whether financial or personal. Have a snack before you make up your mind.

Read also:

• The upside of worrying
• Emotional intelligence is key to success in both dating and business
• Brides from Ukraine — What you need to know
• Exercise makes you smarter