Talking Plate Will Help Reduce Obesity

In a bid to reduce the alarming obesity levels, the NHS in conjunction with the Bristol University plan to study the Swedish 'Mandometer' or the talking plate which warns the user to slow down if they are eating too quickly.

The Mandometer consists of 2 parts- a scale placed under the plate and a small computer screen showing a graph of the food that gradually disappears as the user eats. The scale measures how quickly food is going off the plate. If the user eats too quickly, the computer voice tells them to slow down. The computer screen also flashes up messages asking- 'Are you feeling full yet?' to remind users to think whether they have had enough.

A previous study found that young people ate up to 15% less after a year of using the plates. Experts believe that rather than dieting, slower consumption of food will lead to person feeling fuller, faster. Eating hurriedly does not give the brain time to register that the person feels full, leading to overeating and putting on weight. It is thought that using the plate will lead to the good habit of eating at a slower pace.

Source: Medindia