Dilemma of the day: dieting vs self-control

Several studies showed that self-control leads to blood glucose depletion. This phenomenon occurs not only in humans but in dogs too! The obvious connection between sugar and weakness of will prompted M.T.Gailliot et al to formulate the following problem:

...self-control tasks that have a direct impact on blood glucose may raise particular problems for self- control. Most obviously, dieting essentially involves restricting one’s caloric intake, and there may be an ironic conflict in which the dietary restriction produces lower glucose, which, in turn, undermines the willpower needed to refrain from eating.

Currently, only diabetes patients regularly check their blood glucose level. It's quite possible that dieters or generally healthy people need it to monitor it too. Even better, a diet should be a part of a life-style change program that helps anticipate and deal proactively with self-control (stress) situations.

References:


Gailliot MT, et al. Self-control relies on glucose as a limited energy source: willpower is more than a metaphor.J Pers Soc Psychol. 2007 Feb;92(2):325-36.
Miller HC, et al. Self-control without a "self"?: common self-control processes in humans and dogs. Psychol Sci. 2010 Apr 1;21(4):534-8. Epub 2010 Mar 11.




tags: control, health, detection, scale, dilemma, problem