Eating Slower Helps in Weight Control
Here’s a very easy change to make in your eating habits that could help you lose weight: Eat more slowly.
A study by researchers at the University of Rhode Island seems to support the “slow-down weight-control method.” According to the July issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 30 healthy women were studied on two test visits to compare slow and quick eating rates. The women rated their hunger, satiety, or feeling of fullness, desire to eat, thirst and other factors. A slower rate of eating led to significant decreases in food consumption, even though the meal lasted 21 minutes longer.
For the faster eaters, even though more food was consumed in a shorter period, their level of satiety was significantly lower than the slower eaters. The researchers conclude that taking small bites, putting down your utensil and thoroughly chewing could work together to slow a person’s eating pace and help to maximize that feeling that you don’t need a second helping. Researchers say that although more study is needed, the data suggests that eating slowly could help to maximize satiation and reduce energy intake within meals.
— Journal of the American Dietetic Association, July 2008.
