Table 2 Literature overview of the impact of financial scarcity induced cognitive load on dietary behavior

Folta, Anyanwu, Pustz, Oslund, Penkert & Wilson (2022) [127]

Accompanied shop, interviews, participant driven photo elicitation. Men and women (n = 18)

Participants meeting federal guidelines for poverty

The costs of food and preferences are prioritized above nutritional value when acquiring groceries. Participants did not report indicators of cognitive load

Self-control was not measured. Dietary choices do not seem to be impulsive in relative time abundant conditions

No evidence for (effects of) cognitive load

Zimmerman & Shimoga (2014) [95]

Experiment: 2 × 2 factorial design. Effects of advertising and cognitive load on number of snacks chosen and total in calories

Students (n = 351)

Stratified by parental ses by proxy of parental zip code

Low ses-individuals are more susceptible to the effects of advertising in conditions of high-cognitive load than high-ses individuals, leading to a large increase in the number of snacks chosen and calories consumed

Self-control was not measured

Authors suggest cognitive load experienced when living in poverty may explain sensitivity to food marketing for low-ses individuals

Briers & Laporte (2013) [129]

Five lab experiments. Effects of financial (dis)satisfaction on food preferences and consumption. Students (n = 63)

Manipulation of financial satisfaction

Financial dissatisfaction increases motivation to eat high caloric foods. No main or interaction effect of cognitive load on calories eaten

Food overconsumption may reflect a different mechanism than self-control. Financial dissatisfaction may lead to automatic, non-conscious preferences for high caloric foods

No evidence for effects of cognitive load

Poulter, Eberhardt, Moore & Windgassen (2022) [130]

Semi-structured interviews. Women (n = 5) and men (n = 1)

In-work poverty: financial resources close to poverty-threshold

Participants described cognitive load as a constant and uncontrollable process, requiring cognitive capacity and impacting mental health, relations, and sleep

Health needs were considered the least priority due to financial scarcity, mental exhaustion, and guilt

Food acquisition does not seem to be impulsive, as participants described it as a task requiring a lot of planning. Dietary choices were affected by economic and time factors, rather than health, preferences, or lack of self-control

Cognitive load is seen as risk factor, affecting the perceived capability, opportunity, and motivation to perform health behaviors

Pechey & Marteau (2018) [131]

Online experiment. Effects of the number of healthier and less healthy snack foods on food choices, including moderation effects of cognitive load and ses

Men and women (n = 1.509)

Ses measured by occupation, education, household income and index of multiple deprivation

No main or interaction effects of cognitive load on food choice. No effects of ses on food choice were found. Food appeal but not response inhibition mediated differences in food choice by ses-groups

Self-control was not measured

No evidence for effects of cognitive load

Dominguez-Viera, Van den Berg, Handgraaf & Donovan (2023) [128]

Field experiment, 2 × 2 factorial design. Effects of nutrition information and poverty concern on willingness to pay for healthier packaged bread, richer in protein and fiber and less sodium

Men and women (n = 423)

Three low-income municipalities of Mexico City and induced poverty concerns

Poverty related concern increases stress not cognitive load. Willingness to pay for the healthier variant of the bread was affected by poverty concerns, via increased stress. Willingness to pay did not differ between income groups. Cognitive load was not a mediator

Attention to provided information on nutritional value did not differ by poverty concern and/or income

Self-control was not measured

No evidence for effects of cognitive load

Manipulating poverty related concerns did not seem to increase attentional neglect