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When it comes to weight loss, the magic formula is fairly straightforward: Burn more calories than you take in. But because that advice often means skipping dessert and logging more time on the treadmill, it’s no wonder we’re always on the lookout for easier weight-loss hacks that can tip the scale in the direction we want it to go.
One solution that’s catching some attention: Blue-shaded sunglasses that are sold by a Japanese company. And they’re only $20, so they might be worth a shot if you’re trying to shed a few pounds. (But actually, you can find some more stylish blue-hued aviator glasses on Amazon, and they probably have the same appetite-suppressing effect).
The idea here? That big bowl of spaghetti probably doesn’t look so appetizing if you’re staring at it through blue-hued glasses.
The common perception is that blue can act as an appetite suppressant because it’s not a color we associate with food. You’ll be hard-pressed to think of any blue-hued foods that occur in nature aside from blueberries.
Physicians on a past episode of “The Doctors” discussed blue-hued glasses and the link to weight loss. One of the doctors says, “Our bodies aren’t trained to see blue and get hungry.” Their verdict? Eh, can’t hurt to try ‘em.
Watch the video below to learn more about the these blue glasses and their purported effects on appetite.
So, what does science say? Well, we hate to throw, ahem, shade, at the sunglasses, but there isn’t any strong scientific body of evidence that supports the idea that these special sunglasses—or even the color blue, for that matter—will help you lose weight.
In fact, research reveals red might be the more likely shade to help suppress appetite. A 2013 study that was published in the journal Appetite found that people people tend to eat less when they are presented food on red dishes. (For the study, the researchers used red, white and blue plates).
If you’re not quite sold on the idea of wearing blue glasses at the dinner table, we’ve got a better solution that also has more scientific backing: Install a mirror in your dining room. Research from Cornell University’s Food and Brand Lab found that eating in front of a mirror can make people think chocolate cake tastes less delicious.
[h/t: The Telegraph]