Developing a new method of controlling eating behavior: An unconscious, unrestrictive technique

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K13154
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Clinical psychology
• Research Institution: Ikenobo Junior College
• Principal Investigator: YAMANAKA SACHIKO 池坊短期大学, 環境文化学科, 准教授(移行) (30580021)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): MORI MARI 東海大学, 健康学部 健康マネジメント学科, 准教授 (70399343) ; YAMORI YUKIO 武庫川女子大学, 付属研究所, 教授 (80025600)
• Research Collaborator: KOYAMA TORU 医療社団法人 小山医院, 院長
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 食事コントロール / 野菜 / 糖尿病 / 行動変容

Outline of Final Research Achievements

n this study, I examined a new method of controlling eating behavior. In conventional methods, there is a conscious effort to control eating behavior‐by resisting the urge to eat. In contrast, in this new method, eating behavior is controlled unconsciously through the manipulation of a simple environmental factor‐tableware. The results indicated that using designated tableware (dinner plates designed to contain multiple items) may help improve the balance of main and side dishes. When I tested the method among diabetics, the volume of their vegetable consumption increased significantly compared to when they did not use tableware. However, the method did not impact HbA1c or incretin levels, implying that more research is needed. Despite this limitation, the study suggests that the method is useful for encouraging people to adopt healthier eating behaviors without the psychological burden associated with resisting the urge to eat.

Free Research Field

食行動