Eating quickly can slow the release of hormones in the digestive system and lead to people eating too much, according to a new study.

Researchers at Laiko General Hospital in Athens said in a news release that the hormones make people feel full.

"Our study provides a possible explanation for the relationship between speed eating and overeating by showing that the rate at which someone eats may impact the release of gut hormones that signal the brain to stop eating," said Dr. Alexander Kokkinos.

In the study, people were given a serving of ice cream. Before and after they ate, researchers measured glucose, insulin and other markers in the blood.

People who took 30 minutes to eat the ice cream had higher concentrations of hormones that help people fill full.

"Our findings give some insight into an aspect of modern-day food overconsumption, namely the fact that many people, pressed by demanding working and living conditions, eat faster and in greater amounts than in the past," said Kokkinos. "The warning we were given as children that wolfing down your food will make you fat may in fact have a physiological explanation."

The study was accepted for publication in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.