Study: Eat with Men to Consumer Fewer Calories

If you’re trying to eat fewer calories, you might want to have your next meal in the company of men.

Whether you’re a man or a woman, eating around men makes people eat smaller portions, according to a new study that examines the culinary habits of college students.

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 women I know feel like they have to lose weight in order to be attractive – regardless of whether it’s true.

But I have to wonder why men in the study would eat less.

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 over for dinner, consider this: it really shouldn’t matter.

I think the point of this study is to understand that an aspect of our food choices has 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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