Have a coworker who is always bringing candy and cookies to work? What a bitch! Because according to the Wall Street Journal, that kind gesture could actually make you physically incapable of not eating candy, and thus making you fat. Brian Wansink of Cornell University explains, "The proximity and visibility of a food can consistently increase an adult's consumption. Even for a person with the greatest resolve, every time they look at a candy dish they say, 'Do I want that Hershey's Kiss, or don't I?' At the 24th time, maybe I'm kind of hungry, and I just got this terrible email, and my boss is complaining—and gradually my resolve is worn down."
A 2006 study showed that when candy was displayed in a clear container, people generally ate 2.5 pieces of chocolate on top of the 3.1 they'd eat if it were in an opaque container. And if the candy were in arms reach of a person's desk, they'd eat 2.1 more pieces. So how are Americans handling this offensive attack against their waistlines? One woman said, "If I have to smell it, I will move it," while another office started their own "biggest loser" campaign, and switched to sugar-free candy.
A highly-scientific WSJ poll is drawing no conclusive opinions on whether or not the office candy bowl is evil, but one commenter writes, "Americans too often want to blame others for their problems. If u don't want to take a piece of candy, don't take it. If u can't stop yourself, you have a problem, not everyone else. Take responsibility for your actions." But science says they can't!
