Setting the table with solutions

In an America with alarming rates of obesity, the motherly mantra "clean your plate" takes on a whole new meaning.

A recent study published by Koert van Ittersum of Tech's College of Management, Brian Wansink of Cornell University and James Painter of Eastern Illinois University suggests that larger bowls, plates and eating utensils can greatly contribute to overeating.

For those Tech students who are desperately trying to avoid the "freshman 15" weight gain, the solution is simple: use smaller spoons, plates and bowls.

Both Woodruff and Brittain dining halls have standard plate and utensil sizes, but Ittersum indicated that further studies involving buffet lines may prove beneficial.

Ittersum recommended that students trying to lose weight should "throw away big plates."

However, anyone trying to gain weight, whether he or she is an undernourished child or an elderly relative, needs to use larger plates, bowls and eating utensils, according to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Either way, paying attention to the size of simple spoons and bowls promises to facilitate healthier eating and living.

Obesity is caused by a lack of exercise and overeating. "Overeating is very critical," Ittersum said.

If people gradually cut back proportions in increments, they will be more likely to move towards a healthier lifestyle.

A combination of exercise and smaller servings can help people lose weight. These "two main components" are at the heart of obesity issues, and one solution to the weight problem is to simply cut back on portions.

People are generally unaware of their serving sizes, but the study stated that "small environmental factors can have a big impact on consumption."

Translation? The cues that surround us influence our eating behavior, cues that include the sizes of plates, bowls and spoons.

"The impact of bigger bowls and serving spoons was believed to be because of the larger consumption cue that they provided," Ittersum said.

In the study, 85 faculty members and graduate students in the Department of Food Science and Nutritional Science in a large midwestern university were tested to gauge how bowl and spoon size "unknowingly bias how much a person serves and eats." In an interesting twist, this group was primarily composed of nutrition experts.

Each participant in the study received a bowl and a spoon, both of which came in two sizes. The bowl sizes were 17 oz. and 34 oz. The spoon sizes were 2 oz. and 3 oz. People received different combinations of bowls and spoons and were separated from each other as they served themselves ice cream. They were unaware that others had bowls and serving spoons of different sizes.

The ice cream was weighed, and bowl and spoon size for each person was recorded. The participants in the study then answered questions relating to the research.

The results of the study stated that bowl and spoon size play influential roles as cues that trigger eating behavior.

People with bigger bowls tended to eat 31 percent more than people with smaller bowls. People with larger spoons ate 14.5 percent more than people with smaller spoons.

In a similar study, participants were made aware of their bias, but that knowledge proved to have little effect.

"What is critical to note, however, is that people, even nutrition experts, are generally unaware of having served themselves more. This attests to the ubiquitous nature of these environmental cues," Ittersum said.

According to the recently published article in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, "these illusions are much more powerful than our vigilance." Apparently, being attentive is not enough.

"People are not aware of their actions," Ittersum said.

Buffet lines create more problems. People getting food in these lines are generally not aware of the effects plate size can have on portions. Larger plates result in larger portions, which in turn means more calories. These calories are often unnecessary and excessive, thereby contributing to America's obesity problem.

Ittersum proposed that the different plate sizes in buffets create two dilemmas. The first is that if the plate is too large, people will pile on food and stuff themselves with unnecessary calories. The second is that if the plate size is too small, people might feel underfed and could continuously revisit the buffet for more food.

Students wishing to duck the weight issue, be warned. The next time you eat, check out how big your plate and spoon are.