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Study involving college students found proximity mattered. MONDAY, May 7 (HealthDay News) -- College students are more likelyto snack on fresh fruits and vegetables when these healthy optionsare placed where they can easily reach them, a new study suggests. Students also ate more fruit when it was made clearly visible tothem, according to the report recently released online in thejournal Environment and Behavior . For the study, Gregory Privitera, an assistant professor ofpsychology at St. Bonaventure University in New York, and HeatherCreary, an undergraduate student there, recruited 96 collegestudents and offered them fruits and vegetables. Apple slices andbaby-cut carrots were put in either clear or opaque bowls andplaced on tables that were close to the participants or on a tableabout 6.5 feet away. The students were left alone with the food for 10 minutes. Duringthat time, the study revealed, they were more likely to eat thefruits and vegetables when they were placed close to them. Makingthe food more visible made the students eat more apples, but notcarrots. The researchers suggested that the fact that fruit issweeter may have spurred more motivation to eat the apples. "Apples, but not carrots, have sugar, which is known to stimulatebrain reward regions that induce a 'wanting' for foods that containsugar," the study authors explained in a journal news release."Hence, apple slices may be more visually appealing than carrots." The findings could offer colleges and universities ideas on how toimprove the layout of their dining halls to promote healthy eatingamong students. "Many dining facilities on college campuses are structured in abuffet," the researchers noted. Placing healthy foods closest toseating areas or entrances and visible, such as in open containersat the front of the buffet, could increase intake of these foodsamong college students, they said. More information The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about eating fruits and vegetables . SOURCE: Environment and Behavior , news release, April 30, 2012 Copyright © 2012 HealthDay . All rights reserved. We are high quality suppliers, our products such as Ipad Silicone Case Manufacturer , China Silicone Basting Brush for oversee buyer. To know more, please visits Silicone Baking Set.
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