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Published on: July 29, 2020
Do social activities substitute for food in youth?
Sarah-Jeanne Salvy1, Lauren A Nitecki, Leonard H Epstein
1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Behavioral Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo, Farber Hall, Room G56, 3435 Main Street, Building #26, Buffalo, NY 14214-3000, USA. ssalvy@buffalo.edu
Background:
Behavioral economics offers a framework to understand choice among alternatives. There is no research on the interrelationship between food and social activity in overweight and non-overweight children.
Purpose:
The purpose of this study is to test the substitutability of food and social interactions using behavioral economic methods in overweight and non-overweight youth.
Methods:
Fifty-four (24 males and 30 females) overweight and non-overweight youth aged 9 to 11 years old were tested using a behavioral choice paradigm which involved participants responding to earn points exchangeable for food and/or social activity.
Results:
Youth substituted food for social activities when the cost of social time with an unfamiliar peer increased (p < 0.05) and substituted food for social activities with an unfamiliar peer when the cost of food increased (p < 0.05). However, when interacting with a friend was the alternative, participants did not substitute food for social interactions.
Conclusions:
Social interactions can serve as a substitute for food in both lean and overweight youth.
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