The effect of two behavioral techniques and social context on food consumption

Abstract

Abstract To test the effect of two behavioral techniques on food consumption, normal weight students ate an evening snack under three conditions: removing serving dishes from the eating area, putting food down between bites, and control. Students ate either alone, with a stranger, or with a friend. Both behavioral techniques reduced the total number of items eaten relative to the control. However, they did not significantly affect total calories consumed. Although the social condition of eating did not differentially affect consumption, there was a high correlation between partners of all types on both calories and items consumed.