Eating together: effects of the social context of eating on appetite
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Birmingham
Department Name: School of Psychology
Abstract
Much progress has been made recently in identifying aspects of our current eating environment that may promote overconsumption of food and result in a level of obesity that is damaging to health. For example, some evidence suggests that the recent trend towards food products being available in large portion sizes and the omnipresence of tasty food cues in the environment may explain why some people are prone to eating even when they are not in a state of nutritional need. However, a neglected factor in theories of the drivers of obesity is the social context in which eating occurs. While it has been established that eating in a group of friends or family increases consumption at that meal by around 70%, there has been no investigation to date of whether this "social facilitation" of eating results in increased cumulative energy intake over time. Moreover, very little is known about why people tend to eat more when eating with others than when eating alone. The studies proposed here will address these important gaps in the literature by conducting the first systematic examination of the mechanisms that underlie social facilitation of eating and assessing whether these effects are compensated for over time. First, we will establish whether the increase in intake that occurs during a meal eaten with others is compensated for by later reducing intake to balance energy intake. Second, we will conduct a series of studies using laboratory based experimental designs and online survey methods to test the novel hypotheses that social facilitation of eating is explained by 1) the effects of social context on fundamental psychobiological aspects of appetite control and 2) the effects of social context on cognitive decision making that takes place before a meal. By adopting a biopsychosocial approach to understand social eating effects, the present programme of research addresses an ESRC priority (ESRC research investment: biosocial research) and comes under the ESRC strategic priority on health and wellbeing. The results will contribute to theory development in appetite research and to the development of policies regarding advice on healthy eating environments. Overall the results of the proposed studies will enhance understanding of the external drivers of overconsumption and provide novel data on how overeating in social contexts may be avoided.
Planned Impact
The results of this project will be of interest to health professionals and policy makers, the food industry and weight management support groups as well as the general public. Economic and societal impacts include adding to the knowledge base on factors that influence eating behaviour that could later lead to improvements in health and well-being. In particular, the project will provide an evidence base for the development of strategies and advice that can prevent overeating in social situations. Such advice would enable families and other social groups to maintain healthy eating practices while continuing to benefit from social exchanges at mealtimes. In particular, we will work with our project partner Weight Watchers to explore opportunities for translation of the findings. Given the health costs associated with overeating and weight gain it is important to explore new avenues for improving the Nation's diet through developing comprehensive models of appetite control that have implications for advice on diet and eating practices. Wide dissemination of the results (see pathways to impact plan) will ensure that a range of stakeholders are reached and beneficiaries of this project are not be limited to those in the UK. Engagement with the public will enhance understanding of the complexities of appetite control and interactions with the public will be important for improving the quality of research and its impact. It will also ensure wide communication of the results and inspire the next generation of researchers. The work will also contribute to the training of a skilled researcher with wide knowledge and expertise in a range of different experimental approaches to the study of eating behaviour and experience of working in industry.
Publications
Higgs S
(2019)
Context
Ruddock HK
(2019)
A systematic review and meta-analysis of the social facilitation of eating.
in The American journal of clinical nutrition
Ruddock HK
(2021)
The social facilitation of eating: why does the mere presence of others cause an increase in energy intake?
in Physiology & behavior
Ruddock HK
(2021)
People serve themselves larger portions before a social meal.
in Scientific reports
Elsner F
(2022)
Identifying Future Study Designs for Mental Health and Social Wellbeing Associated with Diets of a Cohort Living in Eco-Regions: Findings from the INSUM Expert Workshop.
in International journal of environmental research and public health
Higgs S
(2022)
Awareness of Social Influences on Eating Is Dependent on Familiarity With Imagined Dining Partners and Type of Eating Occasion.
in Frontiers in psychology
Long EV
(2022)
People's intended serving behaviour at social vs. non-social meals.
in Appetite
Higgs S
(2023)
Is there a role for higher cognitive processes in the development of obesity in humans?
in Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences
Hammami A
(2023)
The effect of social norms on vegetarian choices is moderated by intentions to follow a vegetarian diet in the future: Evidence from a laboratory and field study.
in Frontiers in psychology
Edwards KL
(2024)
Repeated exposure to models' positive facial expressions whilst eating a raw vegetable increases children's consumption of the modelled vegetable.
in Eating behaviors
Description | We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on the social facilitation of eating that suggested eating with others increases food intake relative to eating alone, and this is moderated by the familiarity of co-eaters. Our review identified potential mechanisms for social facilitation of eating and highlighted the need for further research to establish mediating factors. We also proposed a new theoretical framework in which we suggest that the social facilitation of eating has evolved as an efficient evolutionary adaptation. Across two lab based studies, we found that participants served themselves a larger portion immediately before a meal when they knew they were going to eat socially versus when they knew they were going to eat alone. This occurred even when the participant was alone when she executed her decision. These findings demonstrate, for the first time, that the physical presence of co-eaters is not necessary for intake to be socially facilitated, and that knowledge about the social context of eating is factored into decisions about portion size that occur prior to a meal. This discovery is important because it signals ways to prevent a key driver of overconsumption, and suggests that a fundamentally different approach to understanding how eating socially affects intake is now required. Rather than asking why people eat more when they are in groups than when they are alone, we need to ask what causes people to select more food in the first instance. We also conducted a lab based study and a food diary based study and found that people do not compensate in the short-medium term for socially facilitated intake: in other words "social facilitation" of eating results in increased cumulative energy intake over time. These data suggest that social facilitation of eating could led to positive energy balance and weight gain in the longer term. In a series of online studies we found that people are not aware that they tend to eat more at a regular meal compared with eating alone. These data suggest that raising awareness of the fact that eating with familiar others is associated with greater intake at regular meals than eating alone may be helpful for individuals who are trying to manage their intake. |
Exploitation Route | There are implications for advice on healthy eating |
Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Healthcare |
Description | Indicators for assessment of health effects of consumption of sustainable, organic school meals in Ecoregions" (INSUM) |
Organisation | Münster University of Applied Sciences |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Contribution to a workshop resulting in a publication |
Collaborator Contribution | Organization of workshop o bring experts together |
Impact | Elsner, F., Matthiessen, L. E., Srednicka-Tober, D., Marx, W., O'Neil, A., Welch, A., ... & Strassner, C. (2022). Identifying Future Study Designs for Mental Health and Social Wellbeing Associated with Diets of a Cohort Living in Eco-Regions: Findings from the INSUM Expert Workshop. |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | Partnership with WeightWatchers |
Organisation | Weight Watchers International |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Access to research findings. |
Collaborator Contribution | WeightWatchers is a member of the research steering group |
Impact | none yet |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | PhD co-supervision UNSW |
Organisation | University of New South Wales |
Country | Australia |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | PhD co-supervision |
Collaborator Contribution | PhD co-supervision |
Impact | Paper under review |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | Association for Science Education presentation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | I gave a presentation to School teachers as part of the Association for Science Education Annual Conference. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | BBC video |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | A video made by the BBC on the evolutionary reason we eat so much at Christmas |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/reel/video/p0926fvs/the-evolutionary-reason-we-eat-so-much-at-christmas |
Description | ESRC estival of Science |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | We had an evening event in a pub (The Botanist) as part of the ESRC Festival of Science where we engaged the public in presentations, quiz's, activities and Q and A about the psychology of eating. It was a ticketed event that was sold out. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Interview for BBC |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | I was interviewed for a piece on BBC futures on social influences on eating |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20190520-how-your-friends-change-your-habits---for-better-and-worse |
Description | Interview for National newspaper |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Newspaper article based on interview with researcher Helen Ruddock |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-7538527/People-eat-50-cent-theyre-friends-family.htm... |
Description | Interview for National newspaper |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | An interview for the Daily Mail led to an article being published on our review: Ruddock, H. K., Brunstrom, J. M., Vartanian, L. R., & Higgs, S. (2019). A systematic review and meta-analysis of the social facilitation of eating. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 110(4), 842-861. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Interview posted on University Facebook page |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Post doctoral researcher Helen Ruddock was interviewed about her research. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.facebook.com/unibirmingham/videos/735378113596048/ |
Description | Invitation to workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Eating Disorders (ED) Research Workshop aimed to identify gaps in current ED research, priority questions and opportunities for future ED research and to understand how to facilitate stronger dialogue and collaborations with other related areas of research (e.g. conditions that are comorbid, or share common features/behaviours, with ED |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.ukri.org/opportunity/new-collaborations-to-support-eating-disorders-research/ |
Description | Newspaper article |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interview for newspaper and report on research by the Daily mail |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-11575683/amp/Table-one-Ladies-lunch-eat-calories-dining-s... |
Description | Newspaper article |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | I was interviewed by the Guardian for a piece on eating alone versus eating socially. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/may/06/table-for-one-how-eating-alone-changing-our-die... |
Description | Newspaper article |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Washington post article based on interview about research with researcher Helen Ruddock |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2019/11/26/its-true-you-do-eat-more-thanksgiving-evolution-... |
Description | Panel discussion |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Click to Consumption Panel Discussion on social media and food |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Pod cast |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Food Matter live podcast |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://foodmatterslive.com/podcasts/ |
Description | Podcast |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Suzanne Higgs was interviewed about her research for the award winning water cooler neuroscience podcast |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://watercoolerneuroscience.co.uk/podcast/s1-ep4-suzanne-higgs-social-vs-personal-appetites |
Description | Postgraduate workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Weight management and appetite - a transferable skills workshop. Key note speaker. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Presentation at FoodMatters live event |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Presentation on influences on eating behavior at a congress open to the public (FoodMatters live) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.foodmatterslive.com/ |
Description | Presentation to WW |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Presentation of research to Weightwatchers (WW) UK research team which led to pans for further discussion around dissemination of findings. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Press release |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Press release of our systematic review was picked up by multiple outlets and featured on the university of Birmingham web site. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/10/191004105637.htm |
Description | Talk to Warwick Psychology Society |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | Suzanne Higgs gave a presentation at the Annual Conference of the University of Warwick Psychology Society. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Talk to the BBSRC funded London Interdisciplinary Biosciences Consortium (LIDo) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Suzanne Higgs gave a presentation on psychology of appetite to the BBSRC London Interdisciplinary Biosciences Consortium (LIDo) Doctoral Training Partnership |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Web site |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interviewed for BBC Future web site |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20211206-does-seeing-food-on-social-media-make-us-eat-more |
Description | Web site commentary |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | We wrote a comment on a classic paper for a society web site. The primary purpose is to provide students, postdocs and colleagues with papers that that are considered to be critical building blocks of the field. The "classics" provide important historical context, both on the concepts upon which their work and hypotheses were based and on the results and standards of interpretation that the authors considered critical. The commentaries provide perspectives linking the classics to current work and ongoing issues. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.ssib.org/web/classics.php |
Description | Youtube video |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | We created a youtube video on the social facilitation of eating |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J00j2FAmY58&feature=youtu.be |
Description | podcast |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | We created podcasts of interviews with the lead researchers/students on the project |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://eatingbehaviourrg.wordpress.com/research-podcasts/ |