Diners listening to slower music approach eating more calmly, chew their food more thoroughly, and linger longer at the table, a new study from Italy has found. The Italian investigators, led by Riccardo Migliavada, who has a doctorate in ecogastronomy, education, and society, assert that beyond its abilities to affect mood, music also has the related power to influence our behavior while eating, including our “taste perception, appetite and food choices.” They note a body of research exists showing restaurant background music affects the amount of food patrons eat, how quickly they eat it, and even how they perceive its flavor.
Mr. Migliavada and his researchers randomly divided 124 subjects into two groups: one that listened to music at a fast tempo of 145 beats per minute (BPM) and another that listened to music at 85 BPM while eating focaccia bread. They observed the subjects’ eating behaviors by analyzing video recordings of them eating, measuring their leftovers after eating, and administering a questionnaire.
Subjects listening to the faster (145 BPM) music reported feeling more “active, energetic, and enthusiastic” than those listening to slower music. Those in the slower music group reported feeling more “calm and peaceful” compared to subjects in the faster music group. The investigators found that in addition to feeling more relaxed, those who listened to slower music spent more time eating and chewed their food more thoroughly than those who listened.
