Effect of Visual Perception on Food Consumption and Satiety Levels Using a Modified Soup Bowl

ABSTRACT

We examined whether visual perception related to consumption norms could influence food consumption and satiety by using modified soup bowls with elevated bottoms. Twenty-six healthy women (BMI 19.9 kg/m2 Age 24 yr) participated in the study once a week for 2 weeks. The subjects were served beef shank soup in one of two soup bowls (180 g soup in the modified bowl or 250 g soup in the normal bowl). The results showed that subjects who ate from the modified soup bowl consumed less soup (135.3 kcal vs 180.0 kcal, P<0.001) and had lower total energy intake (390.6 kcal vs 438.1 kcal, P<0.01) than those who ate from the normal soup bowl. However, despite consuming fewer calories, satiety levels of those who ate from the modifed soup bowl were not significantly different from those using the normal soup bowl. In conclusion, these results indicate that the modified soup bowl which created a distorted visual perception ot the amount of soup in the bowl leads to decreased soup intake and total energy intake without altering satiety. The reduced amount of soup in the modified soup bowl may also implicitly suggest what might be interpreted as an appropriate amount to consume, and also in essence suggest reduced consumption norm.