Prolonged chewing at lunch decreases later snack intake

Area of Science:

• Behavioral nutrition
• Appetite regulation
• Dietary behavior research

Background:

• Prolonged chewing is known to reduce meal intake.
• The impact of prolonged chewing on subsequent eating occasions remains under-investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if prolonged chewing (30s/mouthful) reduces afternoon snack intake compared to habitual chewing.
• To explore if prolonged chewing affects subsequent intake by influencing memory of the preceding meal.
• To compare prolonged chewing against habitual chewing with meal-duration-equating pauses.

Main Methods:

• Forty-three participants consumed a standardized lunch in a laboratory setting.
• Participants were randomized into three groups: prolonged chewing (30s/mouthful), habitual chewing, or habitual chewing with pauses.
• Post-meal appetite, mood, enjoyment, snack intake (candies), and memory vividness were assessed.

Main Results:

• The prolonged chewing group consumed significantly fewer candies during the afternoon snack test compared to the habitual chewing group.
• Snack intake in the group with pauses did not differ significantly from the other two groups.
• Participants in the prolonged chewing group reported lower happiness and less enjoyment of their lunch, with no significant differences in appetite ratings across groups.

Conclusions:

• Prolonged chewing can effectively reduce intake at a subsequent eating occasion.
• The effect appears linked to memory of the meal rather than enjoyment or appetite.
• Further research into prolonged chewing as an appetite control strategy is warranted.