Study: Eat Around Men to Eat Smaller Meals

If you want to lose weight by eating fewer calories, try eating around men.

Whether you’re a man or a woman, eating around men makes you eat smaller portions, according to a new study that examines our eating habits.

I’m not really surprised that female college students tend to eat less when they’re sitting next to guys their own age. A lot of girls I know feel like they have to be thinner in order to be attractive – regardless of whether that’s really true.

But I have to wonder why this same theory applies to men.

I really doubt they’re trying to impress each other with their portion control.

The researchers weren’t really sure what caused that result either.

In the study, men ordered roughly 952 calories each when they sat by themselves. When they shared their meal with women, they ordered 1,162 calories, according to the study.

Before you start thinking about who to invite for lunch, consider this: it really shouldn’t matter.

I think the point of this study is to understand that some of our food choices have nothing to do with hunger or nutritional value.

I wonder what happens when people eat alone.

Alice Warchol is a freelance health writer and fitness instructor.

Source: Journal of Applied Social Psychology

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