Snack time is a part of the day for children of all ages.
Snack
time
is
a
part
of
the
day
for
children
of
all
ages
.
But new research suggests that kids snacking in big groups could be at risk for obesity.
But
new
research
suggests
that
kids
snacking
in
big
groups
could
be
at
risk
for
obesity
.
Scientists from American University looked at the eating behavior of 54 kids between the ages of 2 and 6.
Scientists
from
American
University
looked
at
the
eating
behavior
of
54
kids
between
the
ages
of
2
and
6
.
At snack time, the scientist watched the amount of food each child ate while they were in groups of either three or nine.
At
snack
time
,
the
scientist
watched
the
amount
of
food
each
child
ate
while
they
were
in
groups
of
either
three
or
nine
.
According to the study, the more children there are in a group, the more likely they are to eat more.
According
to
the
study
,
the
more
children
there
are
in
a
group
,
the
more
likely
they
are
to
eat
more
.
Those in the larger group ate nearly 30 percent more than those in the smaller group, and they actually ate faster.
Those
in
the
larger
group
ate
nearly
30
percent
more
than
those
in
the
smaller
group
,
and
they
actually
ate
faster
.
Since this is the first such study in children, scientists are quick to point out the importance of encouraging healthy habits in kids as early as possible.
Since
this
is
the
first
such
study
in
children
,
scientists
are
quick
to
point
out
the
importance
of
encouraging
healthy
habits
in
kids
as
early
as
possible
.
"If you know kids eat more in large groups, it seems perfect to use this information to keep snack groups small or use small tables," says Dr. Jana Klauer, an expert in New York.
``
If
you
know
kids
eat
more
in
large
groups
,
it
seems
perfect
to
use
this
information
to
keep
snack
groups
small
or
use
small
tables
,
''
says
Dr.
Jana
Klauer
,
an
expert
in
New
York
.
Smaller groups would allow for a quiet and more relaxing environment-a perfect chance to teach children about food, manners and how to know when they feel full.
Smaller
groups
would
allow
for
a
quiet
and
more
relaxing
environment-a
perfect
chance
to
teach
children
about
food
,
manners
and
how
to
know
when
they
feel
full
.
"This would have an effect on kids' eating," adds Klauer.
``
This
would
have
an
effect
on
kids
'
eating
,
''
adds
Klauer
.
"They would slow down and eat less."
``
They
would
slow
down
and
eat
less
.
''
Snack time is a part of the day for children of all ages. But new research suggests that kids snacking in big groups could be at risk for obesity.  Scientists from American University looked at the eating behavior of 54 kids between the ages of 2 and 6. At snack time, the scientist watched the amount of food each child ate while they were in groups of either three or nine. According to the study, the more children there are in a group, the more likely they are to eat more. Those in the larger group ate nearly 30 percent more than those in the smaller group, and they actually ate faster.  Since this is the first such study in children, scientists are quick to point out the importance of encouraging healthy habits in kids as early as possible.  "If you know kids eat more in large groups, it seems perfect to use this information to keep snack groups small or use small tables," says Dr. Jana Klauer, an expert in New York.  Smaller groups would allow for a quiet and more relaxing environment-a perfect chance to teach children about food, manners and how to know when they feel full. "This would have an effect on kids' eating," adds Klauer. "They would slow down and eat less."