Psychological Consequences of Inequality for Food Intake

Abstract

How is inequality associated to social gradients in health such as obesity? Inconclusive findings and misunderstanding regarding the association between inequality and obesity impair attempts to reduce social gradients in obesity. In this chapter we discuss various findings from research on food choices and consumption in situations broadly associated with inequality; that is, environmental scarcity and resource competition, relative deprivation and wealth, and social class distinctions. Based on a review of social and evolutionary psychology theories, we present a model that describes a diverse set of psychological mechanisms that may underlie the effect of experienced inequality on eating behaviors. In particular, we discuss how perceptions of environmental harshness increases motivation for calories, how relative status differences can trigger negative emotions that increase caloric intake, and how food consumption can be motivated by class distinctions that are heightened under conditions of inequality. We conclude with an integration of these different findings, and propose future directions that can address current limitations in interventions aimed at reducing social inequalities in health.

The effect of personal relative deprivation on food choice: An experimental approach

“…Yet, in the wider context of aiming to understand the link between societal inequality and unhealthy diets, it may appear questionable whether feelings of unfairness is a relevant additional process as compared to the mere upward social comparison process. Previous studies have shown that upward social comparisons without feelings of unfairness per se influenced unhealthy eating behaviour [ 35 , 36 ]. For example, people that perceived to have a lower relative income than their interaction partners consumed more calories [ 27 ].…”

“…Fifth, in Study 3, the sample consisted of women only and so its findings cannot be generalized to men. Yet, studying a female population may be especially relevant, as the social status and BMI relationship has been more consistently found among women than among men [ 35 , 36 , 75 ]. Future research on PRD and dietary outcomes may need to identify any differential effects for gender.…”

“…The present research links to a growing number of experimental studies that have demonstrated an effect of a subjective relative socioeconomic manipulation on high-caloric food preference and intake (see for reviews [ 35 , 36 ]. For example, Briers and Laporte [ 37 ] showed that a manipulation of relative income resulted in a higher selection of high versus low caloric dishes.…”