16th February 2026
Why are we getting fatter and what can we do about it?
Dr Stephen Katona
The ‘Baby Food Hypothesis‘ – A possible explanation why we like ice-cream so much and ways to control our appetite.
Why is ice cream so universally irresistible? In this talk , Dr Stephen Katona introduces the Baby Food Hypothesis – a compelling idea that our love of ice cream is rooted in early-life feeding experiences. By exploring how sweetness, fat, texture, temperature, and comfort shape our brains from infancy, we uncover why certain foods feel uniquely satisfying and hard to resist.
What We’ll Explore
– How infant taste preferences for sweet, soft, energy-dense foods persist into adulthood
– Why ice cream closely mirrors the sensory and emotional profile of early “comfort foods”
– The role of reward, memory, and emotion in appetite and cravings
– What this insight means for managing hunger, overeating, and comfort eating
Why It Matters
Rather than blaming willpower, the Baby Food Hypothesis reframes cravings as a predictable outcome of human biology and development. Understanding this opens up more compassionate and effective strategies for appetite control and healthier eating.
Who’s It For?
Anyone interested in food psychology, nutrition, wellbeing, or simply understanding why some foods are so hard to resist.
Dr Stephen Katona
