The behavioralism of eating
posted by Salil Mehra
The New York Tmes reports on Prof. Brian Wansink, who directs Cornell’s Food and Brand Lab and who also has a new book out. The article describes a series of lab results that show that issues of framing and cognitive bias seem to influence people’s eating habits. For example, we eat more if the same food is put in larger containers, and we tend to underestimate our consumption.
While some might see such results as a call for a legislative response, the article describes a series of food-industy responses and personal strategies that can address these biases and possibly reduce obesity. Some of the responses, such as plating dinners in the kitchen, are interesting. First, in my experience, this is a practice that I’ve observed in many Japanese households, though I’m not sure its for dietetic reasons. Second, as a method of dealing with “two selves,” it is reminiscent of some of the writing of Nobel laureate Thomas Schelling, in which he suggests placing the alarm clock as far away from the bed as you can, or winning a game of automotive “chicken” by ripping the steering wheel off and throwing it out the window.
October 12, 2006 at 1:48 pm
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Responses (4)
Christine Hurt - October 12, 2006 at 5:27 pm
Weight Watchers is very good about teaching its members to be aware of these cognitive biases and suggesting strategies: use smaller plates; ask for a to-go container when your food arrives and put half your food in the container; eat snacks like potato chips out of a bowl that you prepare rather than out of the big bag, etc.
Frank - October 12, 2006 at 6:22 pm
There’s a great discussion of the issue at
http://www.radioopensource.org/the-end-of-free-will/
Tried and true weight loss tip: one should eat canned vegetable s (esp. Veg-All) whenever one is hungry. One either fills up or loses one’s appetite rather quickly.
Patrick S. O'Donnell - October 12, 2006 at 7:54 pm
My self-binding/pre-commitment strategy (tied to the mast and all that) is to eat with close family members (whenever possible) who know I want to eat less. I’ve found I definitely eat more when alone, with no one there to shame me in the right direction (like the smoker who announces to others his resolve to quit). I’m living proof that even vegetarians (about 30 years now) who like to ride bicycles can be overweight! And I absolutely avoid fast food (isn’t much there I can usually eat anyway; I don’t count the local pizza joints in this category).
Pierce - October 27, 2006 at 1:09 pm
Like draws to like. Pierce.
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