A study in the Journal of Consumer Research finds people are less likely to buy unhealthy foods if they use cash instead of credit or debit cards to pay for groceries.
Researchers say cash payments are psychologically more painful than card payments and this pain of payment can curb the impulsive responses to buy unhealthy food items.
Scientists also indicate there is a possible link between rising obesity rates in the U.S. and changing modes of payment. They note that in 2006 credit or debit cards were used for nearly 40 percent of all purchases.
