Research paper
Gailliot MT, Baumeister RF. The physiology of willpower: linking blood glucose to self-control. Personality and Social Psychology Review. 2007;11(4):303-327. doi:10.1177/1088868307303030. PMID: 18453466.
Why we cite it
The key review paper linking ego depletion theory to measurable physiology — proposing that self-control literally consumes blood glucose and that low glucose predicts self-control failure. While the broader ego depletion model has faced replication challenges (see cwp01), the practical observations about glucose, hunger, time-of-day effects, and alcohol remain relevant to understanding why willpower-based dietary strategies fail. Provides the physiological rationale for why the project emphasizes stable eating patterns, adequate sleep, and environment design over reliance on self-control.