In addition to diets and the gym, a team of researchers discovered that a decorative element could encourage eating healthier and therefore losing weight.
When we try to lose weight, we often think about the foods to favor, the portions or even physical activity. However, eating behavior specialists are interested in another factor: the environment. What surrounds us at mealtime sometimes plays a more important role than we imagine. The size of a plate, the place of food on the table or even the atmosphere of a room can change our decisions. A study published in the Journal of the Association for Consumer Research shows that a decorative object could also have a say.
To reach this conclusion, the researchers recruited 185 participants. They asked them to choose between two options: a slice of chocolate cake or a fruit salad. Once their decision was made, the volunteers moved into two different types of rooms. Part of the group ate in an environment with a mirror, while the others sat in a room without one. The researchers then asked them to rate the taste of their dessert.
Result: people who had chosen the chocolate cake said they liked it less when they ate in the room equipped with this element. Conversely, those who had tasted the exact same cake in the other room gave more positive evaluations. Interestingly, the phenomenon did not appear with fruit salad. In this case, participants expressed a comparable level of satisfaction regardless of the environment they were in.
Installed in a kitchen or dining room, a mirror obviously does not make you lose weight on its own. On the other hand, this study suggests that it could influence the way we experience certain meals. Ata Jami, lead author of the study, explains: “A glance in the mirror reveals much more than just physical appearance. It allows us to perceive ourselves objectively and evaluate our own behaviors in the same way we evaluate those of others.” In other words, when we see ourselves eating a chocolate cake, we tend to feel more guilty in front of our reflection. We are therefore encouraged to eat less or less often.
This mirror can also be positioned on a wall facing you. You can also opt for a mini version, placed on a pretty tray, directly on the table or on a buffet placed near the dining area. The idea is not to turn your dining room into a fitting room, but simply to be able to see yourself while you eat. To remember.
