The Secret Life of Fat

Candy sales went up during the Great Depression. "With an uncertain future, people were in a state of anxiety which took a toll on will power. This isn't just a convenient anecdote. Studies have shown that a lack of control in our environment chips away at out willpower and our ability to manage stress...if we feel uncertainty in our everyday lives, whether due to a medical test, job offer, or family situation, the lingering doubt depletes our willpower."