Listening to music while eating is related to increases in people's food intake and meal duration

The relationship of listening to music while eating with food consumption in the natural environment was assessed in 78 college students. They recorded their food intake along with environmental factors such as meal duration, music, including speed and volume, location, number of people present and the time of day in a detailed diet diary for 7 consecutive days. The data show that the presence of music is associated with higher food intake. Within subject comparisons revealed higher food and fluid intake and longer meal duration while listening to music but no significant differences in music speed or volume. The likelihood of listening to music appeared to be associated with the environmental variables of the number of people present and the time of day. The presence of music appears to be one of a set of environmental factors that influences food and fluid intake in the natural world. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.