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Chinese Buffets Reveal the Habits of the Overweight

When it comes to eating at Chinese buffets, normal-weight diners have a different approach from that of obese patrons. Slimmer customers are more likely to browse the buffet before serving themselves, use chopsticks instead of forks and sit with their backs to the food, according to a new study.

Researchers had 22 trained observers watch patrons at 11 all-you-can-eat buffets at Chinese restaurants around the country. Here are some of their findings:

  • 71 percent of normal-weight diners browsed the food offerings before serving themselves, as opposed to 33 percent of obese patrons
  • 27 percent of normal-weight people chose seats facing the buffet, as opposed to 42 percent of obese diners
  • 38 percent of normal-weight patrons sat at a booth rather than a table, compared with 16 percent of heavy diners
  • 24 percent of normal-weight people used chopsticks, while only 9 percent of heavy patrons did
  • Overweight people sat an average of 16 feet closer to the buffet than normal-weight people
  • Normal-weight people chewed each bite an average of 15 times, compared with 12 times for obese people


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Article's Comment     ( 7 Comments )
 
 
 +9 Points           
 
Author of the Article
BY Islander   
  
[ Joined on 03/07 ]
[ Posted on October 03, 2008 ]
Post Reply
I suppose if there were no all-you-can-eat places, someone would invent one, right? But why? You can't take any extra home with you. The concept simply encourages you to stuff yourself, a behavior that - if I recall my early schooling - was one of the seven deadly sins, Gluttony. At tihs very moment, there is an article elsewhere on this site about the consequences of overeating, making the brain go "haywire."


Please don't tell me customers are there to get their money's worth. If
it were about money, they'd order a normal meal, eat half or less, and
take the rest home. I mean, in a box.

There's a method to working a buffet. First you cruise it to see what's on offer. Then you make the rounds to pick up a few appetizers. Enjoy them while you converse with dinner partners. Now go back for the salad and possibly a cup of soup. Dine and chit-chat. If you still have room left - you did leave some room, didn't you? - it's time for the entrée. Whew! No room left for dessert now!

 

 +3 Points           
 
Author of the Article
BY Sweet Moksha Bliss   
  
[ Joined on 03/08 ]
Author of the Article [ Posted on October 05, 2008 ]
 
... I will admit I too go for the seafood....lol

The only issue I have is that I wonder sometimes about the quality of these buffet meals. I wonder how much chemicals are sprinkled onto them to keep the food 'looking' fresh, and to make people feel satiated quickly...??

The whole concept of 'buffet' eating was so popular in the '1970's with the 'all you can eat' promise. We all know that people were encouraged to gorge themselves so that they can get more than they paid.

I know individuals who developed a penchant for buffets back then
and they both gained a huge amount of weight on what they said were 'salads'. 

It took them both years to break the emotional habit of needing to eat more that they needed, and to understand what buffet eating actually did to their approach to food...Buffet eating is a danger zone for people with food addictions.

On a good note, they both lost their excess poundage, and now rarely eat out!

 +3 Points           
 
Author of the Article
BY PPARGammaGirl   
  
[ Joined on 06/06 ]
Author of the Article [ Posted on October 04, 2008 ]
 
I don't eat much so I always go for the quality stuff to get my money's worth at a buffet. Seafood mostly.

 
            
 
Author of the Article
BY Dean Deleo   
  
[ Joined on 02/08 ]
[ Posted on October 07, 2008 ]
Post Reply
I used to love hitting the chinese buffets, but that last couple of times ive over done and felt terrible after. I banned myself from chinese buffets or buffets period because anytime i go to a buffet i just eat till i cant breathe .. lol

 
            
 
Author of the Article
BY 4Hand Healthy   
  
[ Joined on 06/07 ]
[ Posted on October 06, 2008 ]
Post Reply
Obese people eat more food...now there's some news.Food companies know this,and they prey on the obese.No one makes them put the fork to their mouth,but we ALL have weaknesses,and no one should profit as a result of them.But then,ain't that the American way? 

 
            
 
Author of the Article
BY BobbyLee   
  
[