Comic's DVD used in diet research

Women who watched ten minutes of the tubby comedian’s act ended up eating 20 per cent more biscuits than those who didn’t.

The Birmingham university survey was intended to find out whether people who watch TV while eating lunch consume more snacks in the afternoon

Sixteen young women were given a lunch of ham sandwiches and crisps. Half ate the meal while watching a DVD of Kay, the other half ate without distractions.

It is suggested that those who watched TV concentrated less on what they are eating, so forgot their meal more quickly and were therefore more tempted by further food.

Dr Suzanne Higgs who led the study said: ‘Our results support the idea that TV watching increases food intake. It is the first evidence that the effect of television on later eating of snacks may be related to a reduced recollection of the earlier meal.’

Published: 3 Aug 2008