Celebrations like Super Bowl parties and Thanksgiving dinners often feature a tempting array of dishes. But having too many choices can lead people to overeat, as a recent study from Penn State has found.
John Long, a postdoctoral researcher in food science, explains that their study aimed to uncover why people tend to consume more at buffets, similar to college dining halls. They suggest that by understanding how factors like food variety influence our eating, we can potentially redesign our eating environments for healthier choices.
Research shows that when people face a diverse spread of food, they often pile on the calories. The study, published in the journal Appetite, confirmed that increased food variety leads to heavier servings and higher calorie intake.
The study’s setup was innovative. Fifty participants, aged 18 to 65, used virtual reality (VR) to navigate a buffet. Each participant visited three times, with different numbers of food items to choose from—nine, 18, or 27. This method let researchers collect meaningful data without the cost and waste of a real buffet.
Long and his co-author, Travis Masterson, noted that even though participants selected more food as options increased, there’s a limit to how much they served themselves. They found that when offered nine food items, participants chose just over 600 grams of food. But those who had 18 or 27 options served themselves more than 900 grams.
Interestingly, the calorie count increased much more significantly. With nine items, the average intake was 850 calories, jumping to 1,320 calories with 18 choices, and soaring to nearly 1,500 calories with 27 options. That’s a 75% increase compared to the nine-item buffet.
Long pointed out that having more options nudges people toward choosing higher-calorie foods. In the U.S., where many consume more calories than necessary, this can be a real concern.
The study also delved into personality traits affecting food selection. Researchers found that participants who scored high in conscientiousness—linked to self-discipline—were less likely to overindulge, even in a buffet with many choices. This highlights the potential for personal awareness in food decisions.
Long and Masterson hope their research inspires changes in how we design food environments. They believe that enhancing awareness of factors influencing our eating habits could lead to healthier choices.
Ultimately, with the obesity epidemic continuing to rise, experts argue it’s crucial to rethink our food surroundings. Instead of simply telling people to watch their diets, understanding and redesigning the food landscape might offer a more effective solution.
For further insights into the impact of food variety on eating behavior, you can check the study published in Appetite here.
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Appetite, Food, Research, Students, Virtual Reality
