The effects of experimentally manipulated social status on acute eating behavior: A randomized, crossover pilot study.
Both subjective and objectively measured social status has been associated with multiple health outcomes, including weight status, but the mechanism for this relationship remains unclear. Experimental studies may help identify the causal mechanisms underlying low social standing as a pathway for obesity. Our objective was to investigate the effects of experimentally manipulated social status on ad libitum acute dietary intakes and stress-related outcomes as potential mechanisms relating social status and weight. This was a pilot feasibility, randomized, crossover study in Hispanic young adults (n=9; age 19-25; 67% female; BMI ≥18.5 and ≤30kg/m(2)). At visit 1, participants consumed a standardized breakfast and were randomized to a high social status position (HIGH) or low social status position (LOW) in a rigged game of Monopoly™. The rules for the game differed substantially in terms of degree of 'privilege' depending on randomization to HIGH or LOW. Following Monopoly™, participants were given an ad libitum buffet meal and energy intakes (kcal) were estimated by pre- and post-weighing foods consumed. Stress-related markers were measured at baseline, after the game of Monopoly™, and after lunch. Visit 2 used the same standardized protocol; however, participants were exposed to the opposite social status condition. When compared to HIGH, participants in LOW consumed 130 more calories (p=0.07) and a significantly higher proportion of their daily calorie needs in the ad libitum buffet meal (39% in LOW versus 31% in HIGH; p=0.04). In LOW, participants reported decreased feelings of pride and powerfulness following Monopoly™ (p=0.05) and after their lunch meal (p=0.08). Relative to HIGH, participants in LOW demonstrated higher heart rates following Monopoly™ (p=0.06), but this relationship was not significant once lunch was consumed (p=0.31). Our pilot data suggest a possible causal relationship between experimentally manipulated low social status and increased acute energy intakes in Hispanic young adults, potentially influenced by decreased feelings of pride and powerfulness. Increased energy intake over time, resulting in positive energy balance, could contribute to increased risk for obesity, which could partially explain the observed relationship between low social standing and higher weight. Larger and longitudinal studies in a diverse sample need to be conducted to confirm findings, increase generalizability, and assess whether this relationship persists over time.
University of Florida, 1329 SW 16th Street, Gainesville, FL 32608, United States. Electronic address: Mcardel@ufl.edu.
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University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Mail Stop #F561, Children's Eating Laboratory, 12631 E 17th Ave, Rm #2609, Aurora, CO 80045, United States. Electronic address: Susan.Johnson@ucdenver.edu.
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Johnson
Colorado State University, 234 Gifford Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523, United States. Electronic address: Jimikaye.Beck@colostate.edu.
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Beck
Box 43011, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409, United States. Electronic address: Emily.Dhurandhar@ttu.edu.
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Dhurandhar
Brown University, School of Public Health, Box G-S121-8, Providence, RI 02912, United States. Electronic address: Akilah_Keita@brown.edu.
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Keita
530 41st St., Boulder, CO 80305, United States. Electronic address: Angela.Tomczik@colorado.edu.
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Tomczik
University of Alabama at Birmingham, 227K Ryals Public Health Building, 1665 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35294, United States. Electronic address: Pavela@uab.edu.
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Pavela
University of Florida, 2004 Mowry Rd, PO Box 100147, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States. Electronic address: thuo@ufl.edu.
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University of Florida, PO Box 100165, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States. Electronic address: djanicke@phhp.ufl.edu.
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Janicke
University of Florida, 2004 Mowry Rd, PO Box 100147, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States. Electronic address: kmuller@ufl.edu.
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Muller
4201 Social and Behavioral Sciences Gateway, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, United States. Electronic address: ppiff@uci.edu.
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Anschutz Health and Wellness Center, 12348 E. Montview Blvd., Mailstop C263, Aurora, CO 80045, United States. Electronic address: john.c.peters@ucdenver.edu.
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Peters
Anschutz Health and Wellness Center, 12348 E. Montview Blvd., Mailstop C263, Aurora, CO 80045, United States. Electronic address: james.hill@ucdenver.edu.
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University of Alabama at Birmingham, 140J Ryals Public Health Building, 1665 University Boulevard, Birmingham, AL 35294, United States. Electronic address: dallison@uab.edu.
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D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004032:Diet; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology*; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005518:Food Preferences; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class; D064232:Visual Analog Scale; D055815:Young Adult
Diet; Hispanic Americans; Obesity; Socioeconomic factors; Subjective social status; Young adult