Comparison of Self-Reported Speed of Eating with an Objective Measure of Eating Rate

Slow eating may be beneficial in reducing energy intake although there is limited research quantifying eating rate. Perceived speed of eating was self-reported by 78 adults using a standard question “On a scale of 1–5 (very slow–very fast), how fast do you believe you eat?” Timing the completion of meals on three occasions was used to assess objective eating rate. The mean (SD) speeds of eating by self-reported categories were 49 (13.7), 42 (12.2), and 35 (10.5) g/min for fast, medium, and slow eaters, respectively. Within each self-reported category, the range of timed speed of eating resulted in considerable overlap between self-identified ‘fast’, ‘medium’ and ‘slow’ eaters. There was 47.4% agreement (fair) between self-reported speed of eating and the objective measure of eating rate (κ = 0.219). Self-reported speed of eating was sufficient at a group level to detect a significant difference (10.9 g/min (95% CI: 2.7, 19.2 g/min, p = 0.009)) between fast and slow; and fast and medium eaters (6.0 g/min (0.5, 11.6 g/min p = 0.033)). The mean difference (95% CI) between slow and medium eaters was 4.9 (−3.4, 12.2) g/min (p = 0.250). At an individual level, self-report had poor sensitivity. Compared to objectively measured speed of eating, self-reported speed of eating was found to be an unreliable means of assessing an individual’s eating rate. There are no standard protocols for assessing speed of eating or eating rate. Establishing such protocols would enable the development of population reference ranges across various demographic groups that may be applicable for public health messages and in clinical management.

Effect of eating habits on obesity in adolescents: a study among Chinese college students

Objective Obesity has been linked to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and osteoarthritis. Obesity and overweight pose a serious threat to human health, with an estimated 190 million overweight and obese people worldwide. Thus, we investigated the influence of certain eating habits on weight among Chinese college students. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 536 college students in Shijiazhuang, China. The survey included questions about eating habits. We analyzed the relationship between participants’ responses and obesity. Results Sex, residence, speed of eating, number of meals eaten per day, and a diet high in sugar were found to be correlated with obesity. Our results suggest that increasing the number of meals per day, slowing down the pace of eating, and reducing the intake of high-sugar foods have potential benefits for reducing obesity among college students. Conclusions In the present study, we found that some dietary habits are related to the occurrence of obesity among college-aged individuals.

EFFECTIVENESS OF Betta splendens AS A BIOLOGICAL PREDATORY AGAINST Aedes aegypti LARVAE

Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) is caused by dengue virus and transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquito. There are several fish species known to be used as a biological predator of Aedes aegypti larvae, such as Betta splendens. The purpose of this study was to examine Betta splendens as a biological predator of Aedes aegypti larvae. The larvae used were in the fourth stage. The Betta splendens consisted of four replicate groups, 3 and 6 months male age group, and 3 and 6 months female age group. The effectiveness rate of predation was only counted based on the speed of eating of 25 larvae in the aquarium containing 3 liters of water. Statistical test was performed with Annova with the parameters fish body weight and time to prey. The longest mean of preying time was found in 3 months aged male fish group (mean body weight = 1.474 grams), with a mean time of prey = 153.80 seconds. The shortest mean preying time was found ini 6 months aged female fish group (mean body weight = 2.566 grams), with a mean time of prey = 142.41 seconds. In conclusion, female 6 month-aged fish with highest mean body weight is most effective againts Aedes aegypti larvae. The body weight can affect the speed of preying, but body weight is only one of some variables that affect the speed and effectiveness beside gender and age of Betta splendens.

Speed of eating and 3-year BMI change: a nationwide prospective study of mid-age women

ObjectiveTo conduct the first nationwide population survey to examine the associations between changes in speed of eating and weight gain over 3 years. The study also explored whether faster eating at baseline was related to healthy-weight women becoming overweight after 3 years.DesignLongitudinal. At baseline, participants were randomly selected from a nationally representative sampling frame to participate in a prospective study. Women completed self-administered baseline questionnaires on demographic and health measures. Self-reported speed of eating, smoking status, physical activity, menopause status, and height and weight were collected at baseline and again 3 years later.SettingNationwide study, New Zealand.SubjectsWomen (n 1601) aged 40–50 years were recruited at baseline from New Zealand electoral rolls.ResultsThere was no evidence of associations between 3-year BMI adjusting for baseline BMI and either baseline speed of eating (slower and faster; P=0·524) or change in speed of eating (consistently faster eating, consistently slower eating, slower eating at baseline but not at 3 years, faster eating at baseline but not at 3 years; P=0·845). Of the 488 women with healthy BMI (18·5 to <25·0 kg/m2) at baseline, seventy-seven (15·8 %) became overweight (BMI≥25·0 kg/m2) after 3 years. Compared with those who were slower eaters at baseline, faster eating at baseline did not increase the risk of becoming overweight 3 years later (P=0·958) nor did change in speed of eating (P=0·236).ConclusionsResults suggest that once women have reached mid-life, faster eating does not predict further weight gain.

Eating Speed Controls the Metabolic Syndrome

Behavioral and nutritional strategies that can help control appetite and energy intake should be developed and tested for their efficacy in body-weight management [1]. Eating slowly is often advised for weight management because slower eating has been hypothesized to allow satiation to register before too much food is consumed. Peripheral biomarkers associated with meal termination include physicochemical measures related to stomach distension and responses of several hormones, including cholecystokinin and glucagon-like peptide 1. It has been proposed that slower rates of ingestion allow more time for these processes to take place, lengthen satiety’s time course, and reduce total energy intake. Speed of eating has long been of interest as a factor potentially contributing to the development of obesity.

Eating in response to hunger and satiety signals is related to BMI in a nationwide sample of 1601 mid-age New Zealand women

ObjectiveTo examine the association between eating in response to hunger and satiety signals (intuitive eating) and BMI. A second objective was to determine whether the hypothesized higher BMI in less intuitive eaters could be explained by the intake of specific foods, speed of eating or binge eating.DesignCross-sectional survey. Participants were randomly selected from a nationally representative sampling frame. Eating in response to hunger and satiety signals (termed ‘intuitive eating’), self-reported height and weight, frequency of binge eating, speed of eating and usual intakes of fruits, vegetables and selected high-fat and/or high-sugar foods were measured.SettingNationwide study, New Zealand.SubjectsWomen (n 2500) aged 40–50 years randomly selected from New Zealand electoral rolls, including Māori rolls (66 % response rate; n 1601).ResultsIntuitive Eating Scale (IES) scores were significantly associated with BMI in an inverse direction, after adjusting for potential confounding variables. When controlling for confounding variables, as well as potential mediators, the inverse association between intuitive eating (potential range of IES score: 21–105) and BMI was only slightly attenuated and remained statistically significant (5·1 % decrease in BMI for every 10-unit increase in intuitive eating; 95 % CI 4·2, 6·1 %; P < 0·0 0 1). The relationship between intuitive eating and BMI was partially mediated by frequency of binge eating.ConclusionsEating in response to hunger and satiety signals is strongly associated with lower BMI in mid-age women. The direction of causality needs to be investigated in longitudinal studies and randomized controlled trials.