Hear more, eat less, suggests new study on food sounds

A joint study published in the academic journal Food Quality and Preference shows that being able to hear what one eats leads directly to consumption of less food.

The study was a venture between researchers at Brigham Young University and Colorado State University to determine if, in fact, the sound of eating plays as large of a role in eating habits as other senses do. Studies in the past suggested food plated to be visually appealing is more appetizing, and it has been shown that taste and smell work together to create a satisfyingly scrumptious dish.

In this study, CSU assistant professor of marketing at Gina Mohr and BYU assistant professor of marketing Ryan Elder set out to trace eating habits based on noise level.

In the course of the study, it was found that individuals watching television or wearing earbuds or earphones who were unable to hear the sounds of chewing, chomping or crunching ate more than those who could hear the sound of masticating. In addition, those watching television images involving suggestions of the sounds of eating ate less.

Mohr and Elder said much of this is simply due to the fact that those sounds add to awareness that food is being consumed and can aid in curbing the tendency to overeat.