Boredom lowers arousal and motivation, while food, especially calorie-dense snacks, provides quick sensory novelty and a short dopamine lift. Scientists call it 'boredom eating'. Brain imaging studies show that exposure to food cues lights up reward areas. U Venkatakrishna Rao, Diabetologist at Synergy Diabetes Speciality Clinic, Bengaluru said boredom eating affects entire system of the body.