WASHINGTON — Diet and exercise are often touted as keys to weight loss, and a new Cornell University study says what you keep on kitchen counters and tables influences diet and can also predict what you weigh, especially if you’re a woman.
During the study, researchers looked at more than 200 photos of kitchens in Syracuse, New York. They found people who kept sugary drinks visible, such as sodas, weighed about 25 pounds more than those who stored them in a pantry or cupboard.
People who kept cereals on the counter weighed about 20 pounds more than folks who stowed them away. Yes, cereal. Even one of the study authors was shocked.
“Cereal has a health-halo, but if you eat a handful every time you walk by, it’s not going to make you skinny,” Dr. Brian Wansink told the Cornell Chronicle.
People who kept a stock of fresh fruit visible weighed about 13 pounds less than those who did not.
Convenience seems to be the chief reason people sip and nibble sugary drinks and foods kept in plain sight. Stocking those not-so-healthy items in cabinets and cupboards means they won’t be the first things you’ll grab and eat when hunger strikes.
Takeaway tips:
- Arrange your home environment to make healthier options the easiest to access;
- Hide those sodas and snack foods in cupboards or pantries;
- Keep fresh fruit in plain sight.
More about Cornell University’s Food and Brand Lab study:
- What’s on your countertop might predict your weight
- Kitchen counter foods that relate to your weight
- Slim by design: Kitchen counter correlates of obesity
