Abstract
Slow eating may be associated with reduced energy intake. A device that counts bites
can provide bite-rate feedback to the user. The purpose of this study was to explore
the bite counter's utility for slowing bite-rate and reducing energy intake. The study
was a within-participants design with three conditions. From February to April 2009,
university students (N=30) ate three meals in the laboratory: a baseline meal without
feedback (Baseline), a meal during which participants received bite-rate feedback
(Feedback), and a meal during which participants followed a 50% slower bite-rate target
(Slow Bite-Rate). Kilocalories of food consumed, ratings of satiation and food-liking,
and milliliters of water consumed were statistically compared across conditions using
repeated-measures analyses of variance. Overall, participants ate 70 kcal fewer during
the Slow Bite-Rate condition compared with the Feedback condition. In addition, when
baseline energy consumption was added post hoc as a grouping variable, participants
who ate more than 400 kcal at baseline (n=11) ate 164 kcal fewer during the Slow Bite-Rate
condition compared to Baseline, and 142 kcal fewer in the Feedback condition compared
with Baseline. However, the Slow Bite-Rate condition did not significantly affect
participants who ate fewer than 400 kcal at baseline (n=19). Therefore, it seems that
slowing bite-rate with the bite counter may be most effective for individuals who
consume larger amounts of food. Future research should explore more foods and drinks,
more diverse groups of individuals, potential moderating variables, and additional
applications of the bite counter.
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Biography
J. L. Scisco is a doctoral candidate, Department of Psychology, Clemson University, Clemson, SC.
Biography
E. R. Muth is a professor and Director of Human Factors Institute, Department of Psychology, Clemson University, Clemson, SC.
Biography
Y. Dong is a doctoral candidate, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC.
Biography
A. W. Hoover is an associate professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC.
Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
January 26,
2011
Identification
Copyright
© 2011 American Dietetic Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
