Effects of eating speed on diet-induced thermogenesis

Overweight or obesity becomes a worldwide public health issue; the global obesity pandemic. Strategies to effectively prevent overweight and obesity are needed. Slow eating, which involves chewing food slowly and thoroughly, can be an effective strategy to prevent overweight and obesity. Previous studies reported a relationship between rapid eating and overweight. Candidate factors inducing the relationship have been thought to be related to increases in appetite and energy intake through rapid eating, allowing the ingestion of a greater-Thanoptimal volume of food. While the counter effect of slow eating has been widely known, effects of eating speed on digestion, absorption, and metabolism has yet to be elucidated. If eating speed affects digestion, absorption, and metabolism, eating speed can be a factor explaining the relationship between eating speed and body composition. The present review is to summarize the effects of eating speed on digestion, absorption, and metabolism, consequently suggesting preferable effects of slowly eating on increasing energy expenditure after eating.