Get All Access for $5/mo

Overexposure to Food Ads Can Make You Lose Your Appetite Food porn no more? A new study shows that when people actually ate a snack after studying dozens of pictures of food they enjoyed it less.

By Kate Taylor

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Most restaurant marketing teams seem to assume that seeing the picture of a food means automatic cravings. However, a recent study reveals that when participants studied dozens of pictures of food, they enjoyed the pictured snacks less when they finally were able to eat them, reports NPR.

The researchers concluded that stimulating tasting food with pictures can satiate the desire to actually eat similar foods. This satiation is why the first bite of something you've been craving is always tastier than your fifth or eighth bite. When you've examined too many pictures of a certain food -- salty foods, in the experiment -- when you actually eat one of these foods, like a peanut, it doesn't taste as good as it would have normally.

The study may be a sign that some restaurants, especially big chains that rely on repetitive and highly visual advertising, may need to rethink their marketing strategy.

Related: Do You Let Employees Show Their Tattoos? Starbucks Doesn't - But That May Change.

"If consumers see too many ads that cause such sensory simulations, the ironic effect could be a decreased enjoyment of the advertised food when it is eaten," researchers note in the report. "Therefore, marketers should consider our findings when designing their ads (and perhaps avoid excessive sensory simulations)."

It's a well-known dieting aphorism that moderation is key. Maybe it's time for restaurant marketing teams to start paying attention and cutting back.

Related: Denny's Just Capitalized on Apple's Tech Glitch in a Genius Marketing Move

Kate Taylor

Reporter

Kate Taylor is a reporter at Business Insider. She was previously a reporter at Entrepreneur. Get in touch with tips and feedback on Twitter at @Kate_H_Taylor. 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

The Side Hustle He Started in His College Apartment Turned Into a $70,000-a-Month Income Stream — Then Earned Nearly $2 Million Last Year

Kyle Morrand and his college roommates loved playing retro video games — and the pastime would help launch his career.

Business News

A Former Corporate Lawyer Now Makes Six Figures on YouTube — Here's How She Does It

Here are the secrets to starting and growing a successful YouTube channel, according to a YouTuber with millions of subscribers.

Growing a Business

How to Determine The Ideal Length of Your Marketing Emails Your Customers Will Actually Read

Wondering how long your marketing emails should be? Here's what consumers say — so you can send them exactly what they like.

Business News

New Southwest Airlines Major Investor Wants to Force Out CEO, Slams Company's 'Stubborn Unwillingness to Evolve'

Elliot Investment Management announced a $1.9 billion stake in the Dallas-based Southwest Airlines on Monday and is urging shareholders to vote for new leadership.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.