Why You Suddenly Feel Hungry When Someone Else Starts Eating

You were not hungry five minutes ago. Then someone opens a packet of crisps beside you, orders a pizza or starts eating lunch, and suddenly your stomach seems to have changed its mind. This is more than a lack of willpower. Human eating behaviour is strongly influenced by social surroundings. Researchers have studied this phenomenon for decades and found that people often eat more when they eat with other people than when they eat alone. The intriguing part is that you may not consciously realise that another person's meal has changed your own appetite.