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Refined Carbohydrate Consumption and Facial Attractiveness
Claire Berticat1, Valérie Durand1, Michel Raymond1
1117506ISEM, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE, IRD, Montpellier, France.
Summary
Higher intake of refined carbohydrates, particularly between meals, was linked to increased facial attractiveness in men and women. This suggests diet impacts perceived age and femininity, potentially due to physiological changes.
Area of Science:
- Nutritional Science
- Human Physiology
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Increased refined carbohydrate consumption since the mid-20th century is linked to adverse health outcomes like obesity and diabetes.
- Chronic hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia may influence non-medical traits, including facial attractiveness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between refined carbohydrate intake and perceived facial attractiveness.
- To explore potential physiological mediators of this association.
Main Methods:
- Facial attractiveness was assessed by opposite-sex raters from photographs.
- Refined carbohydrate consumption was estimated using the glycemic load of three daily meals.
- Structural equation modeling was employed to analyze the data, controlling for various factors.
Main Results:
- Facial images of individuals with higher between-meal glycemic loads were rated as more attractive by opposite-sex raters.
- This preference was mediated by increased apparent age in men and increased femininity in women.
- Physiological effects of high-glycemic meals may influence attractiveness perceptions.
Conclusions:
- Dietary choices, specifically high glycemic load meals, can impact perceived facial attractiveness.
- The findings suggest a potential maladaptation to modern dietary environments.
- Further research is needed to understand the complex interplay between diet, physiology, and social perception.
Keywords:
dietary switchevolutionary dietfacial attractivenessglycaemic loadrefined carbohydratessocial traitsugarsMore Related Videos
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