Studies link hurried eating to overconsumption, obesity

Q: Other than increasing the risk of choking, is eating fast bad for you?

A: Indigestion and gastroesophageal reflux disease are frequently cited as reasons to follow your mother’s advice and enjoy a leisurely meal.

There is also some evidence linking speedy eating to disruption of chemical signals of fullness, leading to overconsumption and obesity.

In one small study, presented at a digestive disease conference in 2003, 20 healthy adults had their acid reflux levels tested after they ate a chicken burger, french fries and a 16-ounce carbonated beverage in five-minute and later in 30-minute meals. The participants had 10 reflux episodes when they ate slowly and 14 when they ate quickly.

A 2008 study in The Journal of the American Dietetic Association examined the feeling of fullness in 30 healthy women when they ate fast and slow meals on separate days. The fast meals resulted in higher caloric intake but less satisfaction.

Long-term effects of fast eating on weight gain were examined in a 2006 Japanese study using questionnaires filled out by 3,737 men and 1,005 women. The faster they reported eating, the higher their reported body mass index.

ActiveStyle, Pages 23 on 05/13/2013

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