Study: Link Found Between Losing Sports Teams, Heavier Fans

[Cincinnatus]

Science marches on, the idea being that when your team loses, you get depressed, and when you get depressed, well, you stuff your face. Either that or someone had a grant, probably federal, that needed to be burned off.

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — The results of a new study spell trouble for Minnesota sports fans’ waist lines.

Believe it or not, a study published Monday in a Psychological Science found that after a sports team loses, fans of that team eat 16 percent more saturated fats than they usually do.

Fans of winning teams apparently are getting thinner, too. The study found the winning fans ate 9 percent less saturated fat.

Fans have such a deep attachment to their NFL teams that losing can trigger a food binge, the study said.

However, at the Fan Central booth at the Minnesota State Fair, some Vikings fans don’t buy it.

“I don’t know. The Vikings lost a lot last year and I actually stayed the same weight, so I don’t know if I actually believe it,” Vikings fan Steve Hanson said.

The study says fans after a loss not only eat more, they turn to fatty often fried comfort foods and sweets.

http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2013/08/28/study-link-found-between-losing-sports-teams-heavier-fans/

[andy58-in-nh]

Losing takes its toll.

[jmyrlefuller]

Could this be a correlation/causation issue?

I know places like Buffalo have very high obesity rates (so much snow in the winter that it's difficult to get around) and also has a pathetic excuse for a pro football team along with a hockey team that the owner promised a Cup but has instead run into the ground.

The most successful teams of late-- Boston comes to mind-- seem to come from healthy, wealthy and wise (OK, Taxachusetts isn't that wise, but still) markets.