Social influences on eating: implications for nutritional interventions

Abstract

We review recent research on the effect of social context on food intake and food choice and assess the implications for nutritional interventions. We focus on studies of modelling of eating behaviour and the impact of perceived eating norms on the amounts and types of food that individuals eat. We suggest that social context influences eating via multiple mechanisms, including identity signalling and self-presentation concerns. However, building on existing theoretical models, we propose that social factors may be particularly influential on nutrition because following the behaviour of others is adaptive and social norms inform individuals about behaviours that are likely to be optimal ('if everyone else is doing it, I probably should be'). Guided by understanding of the potential underlying mechanisms, we discuss how social norms might be used to promote healthier nutrition.

The potential of peer social norms to shape food intake in adolescents and young adults: a systematic review of effects and moderators

“…With 32 out of 33 studies, both correlational and experimental, showing evidence of a relation between peer social norms and young people's food intake, this systematic research synthesis corroborates conclusions of previous reviews that social norms can play a role in young people's food intake (Higgs, 2015;Robinson, Blisset, et al, 2013;Robinson, Thomas, et al, 2014). Our quality assessments indicated that the studies were in general of good quality.…”

“…Together, these previous syntheses provide clear indications that social norms play a role in food intake (Robinson, Blisset, et al, 2013;Robinson, Thomas, et al, 2014) and provide an account of the (evolutionary) mechanisms explaining why human beings follow social norms related to eating (Higgs, 2015). However, the potential for social norms to improve health behaviour, including food intake, is by no means ubiquitous, with various studies also showing null effects or even negative results (for an overview, see Cameron & Campo, 2006).…”

“…Two previous reviews (Robinson, Blisset, & Higgs, 2013;Higgs, 2015) and one meta-analysis (Robinson, Thomas, Aveyard, & Higgs, 2014) suggest there is a relation between social norms and eating behaviour, with the meta-analysis also providing an indication of the size of the effect (which was judged to be 'moderate' by the authors). Together, these previous syntheses provide clear indications that social norms play a role in food intake (Robinson, Blisset, et al, 2013;Robinson, Thomas, et al, 2014) and provide an account of the (evolutionary) mechanisms explaining why human beings follow social norms related to eating (Higgs, 2015).…”

Making personalised nutrition the easy choice: Creating policies to break down the barriers and reap the benefits

“…This was not surprising given that food choices are socially embedded (Robinson et al, 2013). Other qualitative investigations into factors determining healthy eating have also implied that a major perceived barrier to healthy eating is the competing requirements of other family members (Baruth et al, 2014;Cason-Wilkerson et al, 2015;McGuffin et al, 2015).…”

Reprint of: Eating like you are overweight: the effect of overweight models on food intake in a remote confederate study

“…Moreover, there is some research suggesting that having heavier friends increases one's likelihood of gaining weight (Christakis & Fowler, 2007). One potential mechanism explaining this effect is that individuals could use the eating behaviour of their overweight peers as a guide to inform their own behaviour and this in some instances could result in increased energy consumption (Robinson, Blissett, & Higgs, 2013b). Although work has examined how the mere presence of overweight individuals can influence behaviour or activate different stereotypes (Campbell & Mohr, 2011;De Luca & Spigelman, 1979), we are not aware of any work directly examining whether directly manipulating beliefs about what overweight vs. normal/healthy weight individuals have been eating influences the eating behaviour of normal/healthy weight participants.…”