table for one? Women who eat lunch consume more calories than women who eat alone, a study finds
- Women eat an average of 150 more calories per meal when eating out with friends
- If you eat too much socially, you won’t eat less later on average
- Experts advise planning ahead when eating out and opting for healthier options
Ladies eating lunch take note – eating out with friends can cause you to burn significantly more calories than eating alone.
According to one study, women eat an average of 150 extra calories per meal when they eat with their friends. In a lab experiment, 26 women spent three days eating every meal with a friend and three days alone. They ate an average of 540 extra calories over the three days they had a companion.
A second experiment involving 63 women found that those who overeat socially did not later eat less, putting the average woman at risk of gaining 4 kg (8.8 lbs) per year if she was at least eats one meal a day with others.
People may overeat because friendly conversation distracts them. But experts also think we may have evolved to eat in groups more, as it was the only way to ensure a fair share of our hunter-gatherer days.
According to one study, women eat an average of 150 extra calories per meal when they eat with their friends
Professor Suzanne Higgs of the University of Birmingham, author of the study published in the journal Appetite, said she would “expect the same effect in both sexes”.
She said: “People should be aware that social eating, even just a quick lunch with friends, is likely associated with eating more.
“Although this study only focused on women, we expect the same effect in both genders.
“The advice from this study isn’t to stop eating with friends or to eat each meal alone, but maybe plan ahead and order a healthier option off the menu so that overeating is less of a concern .
“When inviting friends to a dinner party, it can be a good strategy to give yourself a fixed portion so you don’t serve yourself more without thinking.
“Alternatively, people could offset the extra calories they get from eating out with friends simply by eating smaller meals before or after.”