Eating at a slow speed may help reduce hunger, the U.S. researchers said on Monday. Previous research suggests that the ability to control energy intake may be affected by the speed at which we eat, and a high eating rate may damage the relationship between the sensory signals and processes that control how much we eat. In order to learn more about the link between eating speed and energy intake, researchers examined how eating speed affects calories consumed during a meal in both normal-weight subjects as well as overweight or obese subjects. In the new study, a group of normal-weight subjects and a group of overweight or obese subjects were asked to consume two meals in a controlled environment. All subjects ate one meal slowly, took small bites, chewed thoroughly, and paused and put the spoon down between bites, and ate a second meal quickly, took large bites, chewed quickly, and did not pause and put the spoon down. At the conclusion of the study, the researchers found only normal-weight subjects had a statistically significant reduction in caloric consumption by eating slowly. "A lack of statistical significance in the overweight and obese group may be partly due to the fact that they consumed less food during both eating conditions compared to the normal-weight subjects," Professor Meena Shah said, "it is possible that the overweight and obese subjects felt more self-conscious, and thus ate less during the study." Despite the differences in caloric consumption between the normal-weight and overweight and obese subjects, the study found some similarities. Both groups felt less hungry later on after the slow meal than after the fast meal, which indicates that greater hunger suppression among both groups could be expected from a meal consumed more slowly. Also, both the normal-weight and overweight or obese groups consumed more water during the slow meal. "The higher water intake during the slow eating condition may have affected food consumption," said Shah. According to Shah, slowing the speed of eating may help suppress hunger levels and "may even improve the enjoyment of a meal". The findings were published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. What is the passage mainly about?
New research findings about how to control eating rate. A study about the link between eating speed and energy intake. One may feel less hungry later on after the slow meal than after the fast meal. Water intake may have affected food consumption.