Football followers actually do eat all of the pies as they change to fatty meals when dropping
Boffins found that when a team is down at half-time, their supporters will turn to comfort food like pies, chips, chocolate and alcohol to cheer themselves up
Furious football fans switch to more fatty foods like chips at grounds when their team is losing, boffins claim.
It means supporters whose club are in a relegation fight may put on more weight by the end of the season than those who follow clubs riding high.
Studies have found that when a team is down at half-time, their fans will turn to comfort food like pies, chips, chocolate bars and booze to cheer themselves up even when less calorific choices are available. And at full-time, people also tend to turn to unhealthy choices at stadiums if their side has lost.
Footie finance expert Kieran Maguire, who wrote the book The Price of Football, said: “Academic colleagues have done research into what we eat, dependent on whether we win or lose a football match. And what happens here is that if your football club loses a match, you are more inclined to consume high calorie food, 16% more calories, than if your team won – because you’re moving to comfort eating.”
It’s good news for the waistlines of fans of clubs like Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea who are battling at the top of the Premier League table.
But supporters of Wolves, Burnley and Leeds United, which are in a relegation scrap, are more likely to turn to junk grub.
Mr Maguire, who has offered consultancy advice to clubs, added: “Post-match behaviour, firstly, you’re less likely to eat, but what you are likely to eat is going to be less healthy for you. And also what they did say was there was anecdotal evidence that people might have more alcohol if they’re losing at half-time than if they’re winning. We go there for comfort.
“But it might be that you’ll have alcohol instead of something else. But in terms of what you consume there is a difference.”
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