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Changes in food attitudes as a function of hunger
D I Lozano1, S L Crites, S N Aikman
1Department of Psychology, University of Texas at El Paso, 79968, USA.
Appetite
|March 31, 1999
Summary
Hunger significantly boosts positive attitudes toward foods, especially high-fat options, influencing eating habits and purchasing decisions. This effect was not observed for non-food items.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Behavioral Science
- Nutrition Psychology
Background:
- Attitudes toward food are crucial for guiding eating behaviors and consumer choices.
- Understanding how physiological states like hunger impact food attitudes is essential for public health and dietary guidance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if hunger selectively influences attitudes towards common food items.
- To determine if the intensity of hunger affects attitudes towards different food types (e.g., high-fat vs. low-calorie).
Main Methods:
- A within-subject design was employed where participants (n=90) rated food and non-food items under both hungry and non-hungry conditions.
- Participants completed two take-home questionnaires, switching hunger states between administrations.
- Attitudes were measured using rating scales for various food and non-food items.
Main Results:
- Participants reported more positive attitudes toward food items when hungry compared to when not hungry.
- No significant difference in attitudes was found for non-food items between hunger states.
- Attitudes toward high-fat foods showed a greater change due to hunger than attitudes toward low-calorie foods.
Conclusions:
- Hunger selectively enhances positive attitudes towards foods, impacting daily eating patterns and food purchasing decisions.
- The heightened influence of hunger on high-fat food attitudes has significant implications for health behaviors and obesity prevention strategies.