Fast Food Restaurant Lighting and Music Can Reduce Calorie Intake and Increase Satisfaction

Abstract

Recent research shows that environmental cues such as lighting and music strongly bias the eating behavior of diners in laboratory situations. This study examines whether changing the atmosphere of a fast food restaurant would change how much patrons ate. The results indicated that softening the lighting and music led people to eat less, to rate the food as more enjoyable, and to spend just as much. In contrast to hypothesized U-shaped curves (people who spend longer eat more), this suggests a more relaxed environment increases satisfaction and decreases consumption.

Keywords: fast food, obesity, food intake, light, music, atmosphere, satisfaction, calorie intake

JEL Classification: M00, M31