Counting bones: environmental cues that decrease food intake

Percept Mot Skills. 2007 Feb;104(1):273-6. doi: 10.2466/pms.104.1.273-276.

Abstract

At an all-you-can eat buffet in a sports bar, it was tested whether people would eat less if they knew how much they had already eaten. 50 graduate students (34 women; M age = 24.1 yr.) were seated at 21 tables randomly assigned to be bussed (leftover wings removed) or unbussed (wings left on table). The 31 students at the bussed tables ate more than those at the unbussed tables (7 wings vs. 5.5 wings), with the effect being stronger for men than women. In distracting eating environments, environmental cues may provide an effective means of reducing consumption. Implications for controlling alcohol intake were also noted.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Awareness*
  • Cues*
  • Eating*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Restaurants*
  • Satiety Response*
  • Sex Factors
  • Social Environment*