Clean Or Empty Plate Syndrome: Does It Really Work?
The need to finish all the food that has been served is known as the empty plate syndrome , even when the sensation of appetite has disappeared. It is a problem that is related to overeating and, therefore, to being overweight and obese. Experts suggest treating it.
It should be borne in mind that under normal conditions the satiety mechanism works correctly. This means that when the appetite is suppressed it is optimal to stop eating, since the body already has the amount of energy necessary to develop its functions.
Empty plate syndrome and obesity
One of the precepts that determine the implementation of the empty plate syndrome is excessive awareness about the need to avoid wasting food. The fact that many parts of the world go hungry generates an ethical conflict when it comes to not finishing everything that has been served on the plate.
However, there is always the possibility of saving these leftovers for another time. There is no explicit obligation to finish all meals, even without feeling hungry. In fact, this act is considered counterproductive.
Forcing the body to eat more, for whatever reason, could alter the mechanism of hunger and satiety, which under normal conditions works optimally. In this situation the risk of gaining weight is increased. It should be taken into account that this change in body composition generates a worse state of health, according to a study published in Circulation Research .
The mechanism of satiety
It is important to understand how the feeling of satiety is generated, since it is a complex process. On the one hand, it can be induced from stomach distention, so an increase in the volume of food eaten is decisive.
Likewise, there is the option that it is the entry of sugar in the blood that causes the hypothalamus to send signals as it is necessary to stop the intake. It is indicating that the energy intake is already sufficient, so eating more could be counterproductive.
Finally, digestive work at the stomach level also causes a reduction in appetite. The longer food takes to leave the stomach, the later hunger will appear. In this sense, both proteins and fats have been shown to be able to induce satiety for a longer time. This is evidenced by research published in the Journal of Obesity & Metabolic Syndrome .
Using the empty plate syndrome to create healthy habits
Despite what has been said, it is possible to use the empty plate syndrome to generate healthy dietary habits. One option would be to serve the food on dessert plates. These are smaller, so the total amount consumed will always be less. In this way, a control is exerted on the energy density of the diet.
However, it is always convenient to carry out a certain therapy in this regard, with a lot of influence on nutritional education. Especially in children, it is important to teach what is an appropriate amount of food, as well as to offer practical and visual information about the size of the servings.
It is important to raise awareness about the need to avoid waste and be respectful with the environment, but not at the cost of your own health. As a general rule, you should stop eating at the moment in which the appetite stops, since it is an indicative signal of the organism.
Empty plate syndrome, a nutritional behavior problem
As discussed, the empty plate syndrome is a behavioral problem at the nutritional level that can lead to an alteration in body composition. This generates a greater risk of getting sick in the medium and long term.
Although there are strategies to take advantage of the problem, playing with perception to offer optimal serving sizes, it is appropriate to prioritize nutrition education. We must take advantage of the fact that children have a greater capacity to internalize these concepts. Establishing good habits at this stage of life ensures good future behaviors.
Finally, it must be borne in mind that the satiety mechanism generally works optimally. Still, it can get out of hand, but it’s trainable and teachable. With the right tools, its efficiency can be reassured.
