Eating with a smaller spoon decreases food intake among healthy young male

Abstract

Objective: This study investigate the effects of using smaller spoons on food intake in healthy young men.

Methods: Twenty-one non-smoking, healthy university male students were included in the study. In a non-randomized crossover trial design, the amount of food consumed, mealtime, and satiety were compared between eating curry with standard-sized and smaller spoons. The suppressive effect of using smaller spoons on food intake may be greater for those who consume more than the estimated energy requirement per meal with a regular spoon. The difference between energy intake and estimated energy requirement with standard-sized spoons for each subject was determined, and the participants were divided into two groups, high energy intake group and low energy intake group, by the median value. The amount of food consumed with both spoons and the duration of meals were compared between the two groups.

Results: There was no difference in the amount of food intake by the participants as a whole due to the two types of spoons. The median (25th and 75th percentile values) of the high energy intake group was lower with the smaller spoons, 592 g (581 g, 679 g), than with regular spoons, 680 (674 g, 893 g). The energy intake was also lower when smaller spoons were used (P=0.026). There was no difference in water consumption amounts and feeling of satiety after the meal between the two conditions.

Conclusion: In young healthy men, smaller spoons could suppress the food intake among those who have a high energy intake with a regular spoon.