Ah, the old adage: everything in moderation.

If only life were really that simple; if only the upcoming holiday made it a bit simpler.

A researcher from the University of Alberta may have just squelched the hopes and plans of many Americans in regards to Halloween 2012.

Jennifer Argo’s study demonstrated just how difficult it would be for a person to stop after eating a single piece of the sweet and scrumptious holiday treats.

She published her findings in the Journal of Marketing, where she insisted that human behavior changes in an unfavorable way when presented with the small packages commonly seen this time of year.

Where one might feel that he or she is doing well by sticking with the smaller packaged items, in all actuality Argo says, people will tend to eat more of the same product when presented in this way.

Those, she adds, who are feeling particularly bad about their physical appearance at the time they are indulging a craving are even more likely to binge on the tiny treats.

This trend became even more apparent when the packaging made mention of a low calorie count or made the food visible through the wrapper.

While this is wonderful information for the marketing genius’s in the crowd, it should also serve as a warning to those who may be tempted by the large bowl of Halloween candy.

Remember the key word in that old adage – moderation!

For more information on the study and findings, continue reading the full article.