Science goes to dinner...

from "Dr. Grumpy In The House"...

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Science goes to dinner

I'd like to thank Sumdood for submitting this important research:

From the Journal Obesity:

Eating behavior and obesity at Chinese buffets.

Wansink B, Payne CR. Department of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA.

Abstract

RESULTS: Patrons with higher levels of BMI were more likely to be associated with using larger plates vs. smaller plates (OR 1.16, P <>Dr. Grumpy comments:

Now, I know some of you are rolling your eyes at this remarkable piece of research, which basically boils down to "obese people eat more than thin people". But lets think for a minute about the research methods, and what they say about the things people will do to get published:

1. Some poor sucker of a graduate student was told to hang out at the local Chinese buffet.

2. This person had to carefully watch who took what size plates, who was using chopsticks, where people had their napkins, and (most horrifically) actually had to time (was a stopwatch involved?) how long other patrons spent chewing their food.

3. After people left the restaurant (or returned to the buffet) this person had to go make notes on how much partially-eaten food was left on plates (wouldn't this attract the suspicion of other diners? Or even the place's manager?).

4. I want to know how ANYONE, fat or thin, is able to serve themselves by going down the buffet with their back to it (1st sentence of the abstract). Certainly you'll lose weight if you're not going to take food. But if you're not going to eat anything, what's the point of going to a restaurant in the first place?

5. While it's not noted in the abstract, did the department at least reimburse this poor sucker for going to the restaurant? I personally think that should be covered under the research budget. And, if multiple trips to the restaurant were required to write the paper, how much weight did the author gain (or lose) during that time?

6. Do these findings hold up at other buffet types? Like pizza, Mongolian barbecue, or Las Vegas?

7. Can I volunteer to do similar research on a cruise ship (if the department is paying for it, of course)?

Posted by Grumpy, M.D. at 7:05 PM 11 comments

The Fat Man comments:

Well I love a good Chinese Buffet as much as the next guy and as a Fat Guy ( AKA.High BMI) I feel I must respond...

When you go to an all you eat buffet you go there to eat, if a cozy atmosphere and conversation are what you seek go to a bar or coffee shop. People go to all you can eat buffet to eat, simple logic...

Having said that of course you use the big plate, makes for fewer trips to the buffet, that's just good manners. I mean grazing the buffet with a serving spoon is just really bad manners after all...

I like chop sticks and I've been known to use them in the comfort of my own home. I am sadly aware however my chop stick skills are lacking. So no way I'm going to make a fool of myself in public, especial if researchers are watching...

I tend to sit where ever there is an open table or the party I am with sits, I guess I would skew results because I try to sit facing the door for reasons that have nothing to do with food. I would also skew the chewing thing too, I thoroughly chew my food because it taste better, beside due a gastric partition if I don't I pay for it...

I have to wonder why they didn't record food choices, I mean I have a a couple friends blessed with active metabolism and low BMI, pig out on the sweet and sour pork with pork fried rice, then hit the soda buffet for a couple super guzzler Cokes (not the Diet or Zero version) and make several trips to the frozen custard bar for Sundays with the fixing. Easily doubling the calorie and fat content of my choices, but hey that's what they like and you after all go to the all you can eat buffet to eat...