How films make us eat more popcorn

FOR many of us, snacking on popcorn is an integral part of the cinema experience.

But the amount we eat is influenced by the characters, a US study shows.

Psychologists have found that audiences eat more when an actor is also eating.

Experts at Cornell University got 147 students to watch two scenes from the film, Harold and Kumar go to White Castle, which features two men who go to a burger bar.

In one scene, they complete a meal. In the other, they eat constantly through the whole scene.

Researchers found viewers ate more food when the two main characters ate throughout the whole scene, the journal Appetite reports.

They concluded: ‘Media presentation of eating is an important source of influence on viewers’ eating goals.’