Some may have noticed that at the table with loved ones or friends, they eat more than when eating alone.
It is indeed true: researchers from the University of Birmingham and the University of Bristol conducted an analysis of 42 scientific papers dedicated to how we eat alone and in company. It turned out that in the presence of friends and relatives, we consume on average 48% more food. (A separate article in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition mentions that overweight women eat 29% more in the company of friends.)
There are several reasons for this phenomenon: for example, in a pleasant environment, we derive more pleasure from food, which leads to increased consumption. Additionally, food can help strengthen social bonds. The social significance of food may have roots in times when people led a hunter-gatherer lifestyle — food was scarce, and it was shared with tribesmen, so after a successful hunt, everyone enjoyed together what had been caught.
Those who are concerned about their weight should be cautious with friendly gatherings.
