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How Thin People Make Other People Fat

New study shows we mimic habits of those whose bodies we aspire to

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 29, 2009 11:55 AM CDT

(Newser) – Existing research suggests those trying to control their food intake should avoid dining with hefty companions with heaping plates. Not quite, says a new study. While the "I'll have what she's having" effect was confirmed in this experiment with college-age women, it was much more pronounced if the person supersizing portions was skinny. “They're big trouble,” a co-author tells Time, referring to "beanpoles with big appetites" eating in view of others.

In the experiment, college-age women were invited to grab a snack before a fake movie screening. When a size 0 actor in the room with them loaded her plate, the participants followed suit. When that actor put on a fat suit, the test subjects were a little more judicious. In another experiment, the actor took small portions, playing it both thin and overweight. Participants followed her lead when thin because, the researchers surmise, they aspired to her figure and thus aped her eating habits. But when she had the suit on and ate light, subjects ate more. If eating light doesn’t work for her, the theory goes, why should I try?

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

Models. (AP Photo)

A big plate. If you see a size 0 eating this, run away! (AP Photo)

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It's our intuition sometimes that you don't want to eat with big people because you're afraid you'll eat more. In fact, the opposite is true. - Gavan Fitzsimons, Fuqua School of Business at Duke

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 8 comments

fiestygirl

Sep 29, 2009 10:21 AM CDT

I would like to think thin people would motivate fat people. This is just another idiotic study geared at making those of us who don't tip the scales beyond the normal weight feel guilty, seem arrogant and obnoxious for having self-control or at the very least the motivation to be active and work off those extra calories. So many idiots and so little time...too bad too many of these idiots are given grants to conduct useless and baseless studies on NOTHING!

Spudsy

Sep 29, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Oh also, this study seems idiotic and a waste of money .I hope it wasn't tax money.

Spudsy

Sep 29, 2009 7:22 AM CDT

It's true. I have eaten three thin people with fava beans and chiant in the past yeari. I now weigh over 350 pounds. Must try chubby people.

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obesity • psychology • eating • portions • scientific study • thin • fashion model • aspirational

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How Thin People Make Other People Fat