The smart folks at Cornell University actually spent precious hours on a academic paper to study human behaviour at a buffet dining environment. No surprise, they concluded people tend to eat more when food is more convenient. The significant findings include:
- 42% of overweight diners tend to select a seat facing the buffet table, compared to 2% of normal-weight diners
- Overweight diners sat at an average distance of 4.8m closer to the buffet table than normal-weight diners
- 71% of normal-weight diners tend to browse the buffet before helping themselves to the food, compared to 33% of overweight diners
The journalist from the local Sunday Times used these findings to discuss Singaporeans' passion for buffets. After all, kiasuism (the local slang for "human motivation to outwin, outrun and outlast") that runs in our blood automatically kicks in when we are at a buffet. The usual suspects would be guilty of:-
- Swarming towards the seafood and red meat section as these dishes are often perceived to be of higher value (we wouldn't want to pay $40 for veggies, you know)
- Taking more than one can eat (we wouldn't want to look too ugly making too many trips to the buffet table).
- Starve the whole day so we can make 2 (or even 3!) meals out of a single buffet treat.
That aside, I always look forward to a cheap and good dim sum buffet anytime! But like what my special someone said, we may end up as outliers in the academic study. *hiaks*
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