Brian Wansink’s research into why people overeat isn’t just good science, it’s funny. So Mr. F and I weren’t surprised to find ourselves laughing a great deal during his lecture tonight at Cal Poly. Running into several of my students after the lecture, I found that we weren’t the only ones.
Having Fun at the Mindless Eating Lecture
I’ve following Wansink’s research carefully over the past few years, and have found it very useful in losing eighty pounds and keeping it off now for almost 2 years.
I am probably the epitome of the “mindless eater.” My parents were typical of their generation, responding to the deprivations of the 1930s depression and WWII rationing with a “clean your plate” mentality. As children, we never quite understood how eating our lima beans would somehow help a child in some far-off place, but we did as we were told. As a result, one learns to disregard the internal signals that are supposed to tell you enough is enough.
I find Wansink’s work to be very consistent with our Jenny Craig program. What can be more mindless than following a very clear menu plan, and having the portion control done for you? Wansink also mentioned that people who seem to stay slim effortlessly have a “system” for eating. That seems to be what we learned from our Jenny Craig experience. The amounts we eat from day to day are very similar.
Our only disappointment of the evening is that we didn’t get a signed copy of Mindless Eating. Apparently, all the books were brought to the lobby after we had taken our seats, and were sold out by the time the lecture was over. Oh well–we’ll have to just order one online!
5 Comments
steelersfan086 · April 2, 2009 at 10:54 pm
Mindless eating seems to be a problem for many people. But, what else can cause mindless eating besides “eating just because?” Maybe people also overeat because they are stressed, they are depressed or lonely, or maybe they are rewarding themselves on an academic achievement by “going out to celebrate.” All these habits can lead to normal eating habits and then the mentality sticks for the longevity of our lives. Not only does portion size in restaurants and at home influence how much we eat, but also circumstances that people turn to food to avoid something else going on in their lives. Wansink is accurate that there is definitely a plague of overeating in our society. Diets such as the Jenny Craig diet that controls portion size can help to change the mentality of those who turn to food as an escape. Also, once this initial mentality is changed, a more positive, healthy eating style can be established and then this will become the normal behavior.
Sierrasmargon · April 6, 2009 at 5:31 pm
The thing that really surprised me in Brian Wansinks lecture was the nasty popcorn study. I believed that people could be encouraged and tricked into eating more out of larger sized containers than smaller ones when GOOD food is the subject, but that they would do the same with stale days old popcorn shocked me. His talk has made me very interested in the social cues that encourage us to eat more as well as stop eating.
LeaKnopf · April 10, 2009 at 8:45 pm
I completely agree that the U.S. is suffering a large portion-driven over-eating epidemic. And we as Americans facilitate this behavior. $2 sodas are ridiculous yet free refills are expected at restaurants. People will go through 3 sodas during a half hour meal and wonder why they are obese. Jack in the Box now serves 32 ounce sodas as their MEDIUM soda! If we buy a meal and are not stuffed to the brim by the end of it, we complain of small portions and are dissatisfied. Yet, Wansink demonstrated that if the food is in front of you, you will eat it. It is hard to find a healthy medium between being satisfied, but remembering not to overeat.
ACroson · April 12, 2009 at 2:18 pm
I definitely spent a few dollars trying to recreate the strawberry yogurt experiment to its fullest (Hershey’s syrup, vanilla yogurt, strawberry yogurt that I scooped out and put in the trash and replaced with vanilla…). Both roommates and both boyfriends fell for it! One of my roommates who is a strawberry hater (but chocolate lover!) actually made a face when eating them as if she were disgusted by the “strawberry” taste! Unbelievable!
Laura Freberg · April 12, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Oh that’s too funny that you replicated the study! Good for you! The yogurt study was just shocking to me (and to my chef husband, who carefully selects each flavor he uses for a dish).
Comments are closed.