Eating speed is a risk factor for metabolic syndrome

From the AHA meeting abstracts:

Results: During the 5-year follow-up, 84 people were diagnosed with metabolic syndrome. The incidence rates of metabolic syndrome among slow, normal and fast-eating participants were 2.3, 6.5 and 11.6%, respectively. The multivariate-adjusted hazard ratio for incidence of metabolic syndrome in the fast-eating group compared to the normal and slow group was 1.89 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21-2.98, p less than 0.05), 5.49 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.30-23.3, p less than 0.05). Eating speed was significantly correlated with weight gain, triglyceride (TG) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) components of metabolic risk factors. Multivariable logistic analysis revealed that weight gain and TG and HDL-C was significantly associated with Mets cumulative incidence (OR 3.59: 95% CI: 2.12-6.09, p less than 0.001, OR 1.003: 95% CI: 1.001-1.004, p less than 0.001, OR 0.96: 95% CI:0.935-0.980, p less than 0.005).

Conclusions: Eating speed was associated with obesity and future prevalence of Metabolic syndrome. Eating slowly may therefore indicated to be a crucial lifestyle factor for preventing metabolic syndrome among the Japanese.