Eating Behaviour
7 important questions on Eating Behaviour
Developmental models of eating behaviour
Human beings need to consume a variety of foods in order to ahve a balanced diet, and yet can sometimes show a fear and avoidance f novel foodstuffs, know as neophobia.
Developmental models of eating behaviour: EXPOSURE
- but, mere exposure to novel food can change children's preferences
- 8-10 exposures seem needed to shift preferences
- but, as more new foods are added it takes less exposure
- similarly research indicates that children can identify and are willing to taste vegetables if purchased by their parents.
- Neophobia has been shown to be greater in males than females
Cognitive models of eating behaviour
For example
- theory of reasoned action (intention to perform)
- theory of planned behaviour (intention to perform + amount of actual control over perform of behaviour)
Food, however, is embedded with a multitude of meanings relating to emotioins, social relationships, communication, etc...
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A weight concern model of eating behaviour
A cognitive model: emphasises beliefs
A weight concern model incorporates both these dimensions, but highlights the impact that the meanings and roles of food have on eating behaviour.
A new theory of eating behaviour emerged in the late 1970s, known as 'restraint theory', which emphasises the importance of dieting and suggested that restrained eating might be a better predictor of food intake than weight per se. Restrained eating can lead to episodes of overeating.
Restrained eating and overeating
Several terms have been used to describe the overeating found in restrained eater.
Counterregulation refers to the relative overeating shown following a high-calorie preload compared to a low-calorie one.
Disinhibition has been defined as eating more as a result of the loosening of restraints in response to emotional distress intoxication or preloading.
The what the hell effect has been used to characterise overeating following a period of attempted undereating.
The causal analysis of overeating
Succesful interventions to change eating behaviour
1. control and denial (encourage a reduction in food intake, avoid feelings of denial)
2. Meanings associated with food, learned through childhood reflected in adult cognitions (not enhance meanings associated with food that encourage overeating)
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