People Consume More Candies When They're Individually Wrapped, Study Shows

[n2doc]

ScienceDaily (Oct. 27, 2011) — If you believe that good things always come in small packages, University of Alberta researcher Jennifer Argo's new study may change your mind -- especially this close to Halloween.


In an article forthcoming in the Journal of Marketing, Argo explores how our consumption behaviours change when it comes to treats like chocolates and candies are placed in smaller packages. She says that people eat more of a product when it is placed in small packages rather that a regular-sized packages. However, she said, those with low-appearance self-esteem -- the term researchers use to describe people who are concerned about their body, weight or physical appearance -- tend to consume more than the average population, especially when certain conditions seemed favourable.

"The low-appearance self-esteem people ate the most when they were told that the caloric information was favourable (low in calories), when the caloric information was on the front of the package and when the product was visible (clear packaging)," said Argo. "People in the high-appearance self-esteem category -- those who did not indicate concerns about weight or physical appearance -- still ate more, but there was a big jump in the consumption quantity for ."


Giving in to the dark chocolate side
Argo says that information contained on the packages in the study samples did have an effect on the low-appearance self-esteem participants. This group tended to eat less when the product wasn't visible, the caloric information was missing or they believed there were more calories in the small packages than what they expected.


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111027132459.htm

[tblue]

1. Ok. Who's been spying on me?

They don't call it 'fun size' for nothin!

[TwilightGardener]

2. I read this as I stare at a bowl full of fun size M&M's, Skittles and Snickers.

No trick or treaters so far, so someone's got to eat these...

[Liberal_in_LA]

5. control yourself. n/t

[TwilightGardener]

8. It's too late.

[no_hypocrisy]

3. Well, it's kinda easy to lose count when they're that small.

[RebelOne]

6. I know. I pig out on the small individual bite-sized

Reese's peanut butter cups.

[no_hypocrisy]

7. Reese's peanut butter cups? That's crack . . . .

[TheCowsCameHome]

4. I've never eaten candy when I wasn't dressed.

Does it taste better when in the buff?

[Hissyspit]

9. Well, I can attest to that due to the past several days. nt