Don't Trust Little Packages

The bowl is on your co-worker’s desk. The same desk you pass on your way to your own desk. The bright, shiny wrappers are just calling your name. Plus, the bite-sized chocolates are so small. Surely just one or two won’t hurt…or three…or four.

A common dieting pitfall is not knowing when to stop. But new research suggests that the packaging of smaller items can confuse that boundary even more for dieters. A new study out of Lisbon, Portugal observed subjects as they watched episodes of Friends and ate snacks (I want to be in that study!). The participants thought the study was about analyzing the commercials – but in reality, the research team was monitoring the quantity of potato chips they consumed while viewing. The potato chips were given to the subjects in two sizes of bags. Viewers who received the smaller bags of chips ate a significantly greater amount of chips than those who had the bigger bags.

Next time you’re tempted by a tiny package, just remember that it’s a dieting trap – the smaller size can trick you into eating more. This doesn’t give you license to scarf down a giant bag, either – just a helpful hint as you navigate the grocery store aisles or the office hallways!