Fun and Fitness for the 40-Something

When snack-makers started offering some of their treats in 100-calorie-sized packages, it seemed like a dream come true for those watching their weight. But two studies in the Journal of Consumer Research indicate that the small packages can backfire and actually cause weight gain.

One study concludes that people consume more high-calorie snacks when they come in small packages, and those packages make them more likely to surrender to temptation in the first place. Larger packages trigger more deliberation before consumption and conscious efforts to avoid overeating. Conversely, small packages are deemed innocent pleasures, so that people are unaware when they overindulge with the packages.

Researchers began the study by activating the “dietary concerns” of a group of participants by having them complete a “Body Satisfaction scale,” a “Drive for Thinness scale” and a “Concern for Dieting scale.” That group (and a control group, which didn’t have its dietary concerns activated) watched several episodes of “Friends” with commercials. The participants believed their task was to evaluate the ads; researchers actually were monitoring their consumption of potato chips. Chips were available in large packages or small ones.

According to a press release, “consumption was lowest when dieting concerns were activated and package size was large. People were less likely to open large packages, and participants deliberated longer before consuming from the larger packages.” The author’s somewhat patronizing conclusion? “Maybe the answer lies in consumers taking responsibility for their consumption and monitoring internal cues of sufficiency, rather than letting package size take control.” Sooo … I shouldn’t eat six small packages in one sitting? Give it to me straight, Doc!

The other study looked at M&Ms in mini-packs versus regular-sized bags. It found that “individuals constantly trying to manage their weight and food intake” overconsume mini-packs. The researchers explain:

“On the one hand, consumers perceive the mini-packs to be a generous portion of food (numerous small food morsels in each pack and multiple mini-packs in each box); on the other hand, consumers perceive the mini-packs to be diet food. For chronic dieters, this perceptual dilemma causes a tendency to overeat, due to their emotion-laden relationship with food.”

In other words, chronic dieters tend to consume more of these foods than they would of regular foods. I can vouch for that. Although I wouldn’t call myself a “chronic dieter,” I could easily go through a bag of sugar-free mini Reese’s in a day, which comes out to about 350 calories. That’s more calories than a regular-sized package of Reese’s cups—but those would never last all day, and I like to spread out my chocolate fixes!

Anyway, these findings aren’t too surprising, are they? They just remind us of the dangers of too much of a good thing.

This entry was posted on Friday, September 5th, 2008 at 7:46 am and is filed under Health and Wellness, Just for Fun, Products and Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.