You may have heard the old wives tale that eating too quickly causes weight gain. Now, a new study suggests it’s more than watching what you eat… it’s watching how you eat.

Researchers at the University of Athens Medical School find that eating faster inhibits the release of hormones in the gut that work to make you feel full. This leads to overeating and weight gain.

Previous research confirmed the importance of appetite-regulating hormones in regulating hunger, feeling full and energy uptake. Higher levels of these hormones indicate higher rates of fullness. But this study was the first to measure the impact of eating speeds on appetite-regulating hormones.

Researchers gave each subject three hundred milliliters of ice cream to consume at different rates. The first group of subjects wolfed down the ice cream in two minutes… while a second group had thirty minutes to consume the treat.

Researchers measured patients’ glucose, insulin and plasma lipid levels before and after the meal at thirty-minute intervals for three and a half hours. Their results indicate that people who eat at a slow to moderate speed have significantly higher levels of appetite-regulating hormones and also have a higher fullness rating.

Our increasingly stressful and fast-paced society makes it easier to eat more… and faster. Next time you sit down to a meal, try this easy trick. Eating more slowly… combined with small portions and drinking more fluids… can have a positive effect on your weight and overall health. So, next time you pause for a meal… give your food an extra chew and think slim!