Influences of meal size on post-lunch changes in performance efficiency, mood, and cardiovascular function.
This study examined the effects of the size of the meal on post-lunch changes in attention, mood, blood pressure and pulse. Thirty-five females subjects were tested before and after lunch. One group (n = 12) were than given a normal-sized lunch, another (n = 11) were given a lunch designed to contain 40% more energy than their individual requirement and the third group (n = 12) had a lunch with an energy content 40% less than the estimated requirement. After lunch all groups of subjects reported that they felt more feeble, dreamy and bored, and less alert, excited, clear-headed, energetic, quick-witted, friendly, sociable and elated. However, the size of the meal did not alter the extent of the pre/post-meal differences. Similarly, there was no effect of meal size on pulse rate or blood pressure, although pre/post-meal differences were observed. In contrast, subjects who had a larger lunch than normal made more errors on focussed attention and search tasks (especially the search task) than those who had a normal-sized lunch or one which was smaller than normal.
Smith
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A
Health Psychology Research Unit, School of Psychology, University of Wales College of Cardiff, U.K.
Ralph
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A
McNeill
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G
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D004526:Efficiency; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D011674:Pulse