Researchers at Fujita Medical University have found that both the composition of food and the speed at which it is consumed play important roles in weight control. Slowing the pace of eating can help reduce calorie intake, thereby lowering the risk of obesity and related diseases. The study is published in Nutrients.
The experiment involved 33 participants aged 20 to 65, who ate pizza under different conditions while researchers recorded their eating time, number of chewing movements, number of bites, and chewing speed. Participants were also asked to eat while listening to rhythmic sounds from a timer with varying beat frequencies to determine whether external rhythm influenced their behavior.
The results showed that women took longer to eat than men, averaging 87 seconds compared to 63 seconds. They also took more bites and chewed more, but their chewing speed was similar across all participants.
The researchers found that meal duration was directly related to the number of bites and chewing movements but not to chewing speed or body mass index. The effect of the timer rhythm was particularly notable: a slow pace (40 beats per minute) significantly increased eating time.
Researchers concluded that slowing the eating process can be an effective strategy for weight control. Increasing chewing before swallowing, taking smaller bites, and creating a calm, rhythmic eating environment are simple yet effective ways to reduce food intake without requiring a strict diet. Professor Katsumi Iizuka noted that such methods can be easily applied in everyday life and even in educational institutions, including school feeding programs.
Scientists plan to test the theory on other foods to confirm its universality. However, it is already clear that a conscious approach to the eating process can become an accessible and effective tool in the fight against obesity.
