Scientific Sources & References Eating When You’re Mentally Exhausted / Eating When You’re Mentally Exhausted / Eating When You’re Mentally Exhausted / Books

Eating When You’re Mentally Exhausted

Why Hunger, Cravings, and Food Decisions Can Feel Harder at the End of a Long Day and How to Make Evenings Easier Without Relying on Willpower

The ideas discussed in Eating When You’re Mentally Exhausted were developed with reference to peer-reviewed research across mental fatigue, decision-making, self-control, hunger, appetite, food craving, dietary restraint, sleep, and eating behavior.

This page gathers the scientific sources cited in the book for readers who would like to examine the research in more detail. Individual studies reflect specific populations, methods, and conditions and should not be interpreted as individualized medical, nutritional, or psychological guidance.

Scientific Sources & References

Mental Fatigue, Decision-Making & Self-Control

Choudhury NA, Saravanan P. An integrative review on unveiling the causes and effects of decision fatigue to develop a multi-domain conceptual framework. Front Cognit. 2026;4:1719312. doi:10.3389/fcogn.2025.1719312.

Habay J, Arenales Arauz YL, Proost M, et al. Mental fatigue negatively impacts cognitive and physical performance outcomes: A large-scale randomized crossover trial. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2026;58(2):225-241. doi:10.1249/MSS.0000000000003852.

Hagger MS, Chatzisarantis NLD, Alberts H, et al. A multilab preregistered replication of the ego-depletion effect. Perspect Psychol Sci. 2016;11(4):546-573. doi:10.1177/1745691616652873.

Hofmann W, Baumeister RF, Förster G, Vohs KD. Everyday temptations: An experience sampling study of desire, conflict, and self-control. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2012;102(6):1318-1335. doi:10.1037/a0026545.

Maier M, Powell D, Murchie P, Allan JL. Systematic review of the effects of decision fatigue in healthcare professionals on medical decision-making. Health Psychol Rev. 2025;19(4):717-762. doi:10.1080/17437199.2025.2513916.

Milyavskaya M, Saunders B, Inzlicht M. Self-control in daily life: Prevalence and effectiveness of diverse self-control strategies. J Pers. 2021;89(4):634-651. doi:10.1111/jopy.12604.

Vohs KD, Schmeichel BJ, Lohmann S, et al. A multisite preregistered paradigmatic test of the ego-depletion effect. Psychol Sci. 2021;32(10):1566-1581. doi:10.1177/0956797621989733.

Wiehler A, Branzoli F, Adanyeguh I, et al. A neuro-metabolic account of why daylong cognitive work alters the control of economic decisions. Curr Biol. 2022;32(16):3564-3575.e5. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2022.07.010.

Hunger, Appetite, Cravings & Everyday Context

Boyland E, Spanakis P, O’Reilly C, Christiansen P. Associations between everyday exposure to food marketing and hunger and food craving in adults: An ecological momentary assessment study. Appetite. 2024;196:107241. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2024.107241.

Finlayson G, King N, Blundell JE. Is it possible to dissociate ’liking’ and ’wanting’ for foods in humans? A novel experimental procedure. Physiol Behav. 2007;90(1):36-42. doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2006.08.020.

Jun D, Kong S, Lee G, Fazzino TL. Ecological momentary assessment studies on food craving among healthy adults: A systematic review. Appetite. 2026;227:108721. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2026.108721.

Nijs IMT, Franken IHA, Muris P. The modified Trait and State Food-Cravings Questionnaires: Development and validation of a general index of food craving. Appetite. 2007;49(1):38-46. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2006.11.001.

Scheer FAJL, Morris CJ, Shea SA. The internal circadian clock increases hunger and appetite in the evening independent of food intake and other behaviors. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2013;21(3):421-423. doi:10.1002/oby.20351.

Tajiri E, Yoshimura E, Tobina T, et al. Effects of sleep restriction on food intake and appetite under free-living conditions: A randomized crossover trial. Appetite. 2023;189:106998. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2023.106998.

Tey SL, Chia EME, Forde CG. Impact of dose-response calorie reduction or supplementation of a covertly manipulated lunchtime meal on energy compensation. Physiol Behav. 2016;165:15-21. doi:10.1016/j.physbeh.2016.06.032.

Restriction, Deprivation & Eating Behavior

Beaulieu K, Casanova N, Oustric P, et al. Matched weight loss through intermittent or continuous energy restriction does not lead to compensatory increases in appetite and eating behavior in a randomized controlled trial in women with overweight and obesity. J Nutr. 2020;150(3):623-633. doi:10.1093/jn/nxz296.

Coelho JS, Polivy J, Herman CP. Selective carbohydrate or protein restriction: Effects on subsequent food intake and cravings. Appetite. 2006;47(3):352-360. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2006.05.015.

Martin CK, Rosenbaum D, Han H, et al. Change in food cravings, food preferences, and appetite during a low-carbohydrate and low-fat diet. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2011;19(10):1963-1970. doi:10.1038/oby.2011.62.

Polivy J, Coleman J, Herman CP. The effect of deprivation on food cravings and eating behavior in restrained and unrestrained eaters. Int J Eat Disord. 2005;38(4):301-309. doi:10.1002/eat.20195.