A cue to Eating: Social and Biological Influences on Eating Behavior

Abstract

Aims: This symposium will (1) enhance comprehension how social and biological factors impact eating behavior, (2) uncover who is affected, (3) illustrate effects of conflicting social and biological influences, (4) target interplaying sources of social influences, and (5) suggest opportunities how biological factors might be used to improve eating behavior. Rationale: Unhealthy eating patterns are common and associated with a large burden of disease. Understanding the factors underlying eating behavior is essential for the prevention of diet-related diseases. Hereby, social and biological factors play an important role. Summary & timetable: This symposium brings together latest research results combining diary, longitudinal, and experimental data. The first presentation (de Ridder) demonstrates who is affected by social pressures to be thin, that is dieting. Second, it is shown how the conflict between diet goal and the biological goal of eating enjoyment impacts weight (Keller). The third presentation (Sproesser) targets when social factors serve as cue to eating. Forth, it is illustrated how biological food cues attract attention in different eaters suggesting opportunities to improve eating behavior (Meule). The last presentation (Renner) complements this research by showing how depriving people from visual information can shift attention towards interoceptive cues.