ANN ARBOR, Mich., Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Children snacking in large groups eat almost one-third more than when snacking with a couple of friends, according to a U.S. study.
The researchers analyzed the eating behavior of 54 children between the ages of 2 and 6 when they were in a group of nine children and when they were in a group of three.
Each child was given a standard snack, and the amount consumed on each occasion was weighed. The time taken to eat it was also assessed. The observations took place in the classroom, supervised by teachers.
Children ate slightly more in the larger groups when the snacking time was less than 11 minutes. But when snacking went on for longer, children in the larger groups ate 30 percent more than children eating in small groups, irrespective of the time they took over their snacks, according to the study published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.
