Heavy trays lead to heavier meals (626.21)

Abstract

The studies aimed to determine whether carrying heavier trays leads to serving more food. In our studies, participants carried trays varying in weight and served themselves food for immediate consumption. In one study (N = 91), participants carrying heavy trays served themselves more small food servings (2.87) than did participants carrying light trays (2.36 cups), p = .06. Interestingly, even heavier trays (double the added weight) eliminated the increase (2.36). In another study participants (N = 46) carried the same types of trays used in the last study. There was a significant effect of tray weight on amount served, when controlling for gender and its interaction with tray weight and item type, p = .04. Participants picked more food (40.23 grams) with the medium weighed trays than with the light trays (30.55) or the double‐weighed trays (25.55). Burden on peoples’ trays appears to lead to increased serving of food, but extra burden eliminates these effects. It is possible that some burden reduces sensitivity to weight, allowing people to serve greater quantities of food without awareness. However, too great a burden can make carrying the trays difficult, and so reduce the amount served.