Abstract
Environmental food cues — visibility (salience) and convenience (proximity) — increase consumption volume and distort self-monitoring: people eat more when candy is visible and nearby, and underestimate proximate intake (Painter & Wansink, 2002).
Painter, J., & Wansink, B. (2002). How visibility and convenience influence candy consumption. Appetite, 38(3), 237–238. DOI.
Key findings
- Visibility: — clear vs opaque containers — visible food increases salience → more opportunistic eating (+2.2 candies/day in 4-week office study, Wansink & Painter, 2006).
- Convenience (proximity): — desk vs 2 m distance — reduced friction increases consumption (+1.8 candies/day, same study).
Application
When an office replaces a clear candy bowl on the reception desk with opaque containers stored in a kitchen 2 m+ from workstations — open this cite for the study behind the move.