Healthy Eating at Work: The Psychology of Social Influence on Food Choices

<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Eating well is not only important for physical health, but it also has psychological benefits. In addition, research has shown that food choices can be influenced by social factors. A recent US study published in the journal Nature Human Behavior found that people tend to choose foods that are as healthy or unhealthy as their colleagues when they eat together in a workplace canteen. This influence is seen even among casual acquaintances.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The study, conducted by Douglas Levy and his colleagues at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard University, examined the social influence on the food choices of approximately 6,000 employees who have eaten in the seven canteens of the hospital system for two years. The wholesomeness of food purchased was determined using the hospital cafeteria labeling system, which designates all foods and beverages as green (healthy), yellow (less healthy), or red (unhealthy).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The study found that purchases made by people related to each other were consistently more similar than different. The magnitude of the effect was somewhat stronger for healthy foods than for unhealthy foods. To validate their social network model, the researchers surveyed more than 1,000 employees, asking them to confirm the names of people they had identified as their meal partners.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The innovative aspect of the study was the combination of complementary types of data and the use of social network analysis to examine how the eating behaviors of a large group were socially linked over a long period of time. This allowed researchers to determine whether social influence actually influences eating behavior, or whether people with similar lifestyle and food preferences are more likely to become friends and eat together, a phenomenon known as homophilia.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The study's findings have implications for workplace wellness programs, as well as public health campaigns aimed at improving eating habits. “If your eating habits influence the way your coworkers eat - if only a little - then changing your food choices for the better could benefit your coworkers too,” says Levy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Overall, the study highlights the importance of social factors in shaping eating behaviors and the potential for social influence to promote healthier food choices. It also emphasizes the need for more research to explore the mechanisms underlying social influence on eating behaviors and to develop effective interventions to promote healthy eating in different social contexts.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Eating well is not only important for physical health, but it also has psychological benefits. In addition, research has shown that food choices can be influenced by social factors. A recent US study published in the journal Nature Human Behavior found that people tend to choose foods that are as healthy or unhealthy as their colleagues when they eat together in a workplace canteen. This influence is seen even among casual acquaintances.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The study, conducted by Douglas Levy and his colleagues at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard University, examined the social influence on the food choices of approximately 6,000 employees who have eaten in the seven canteens of the hospital system for two years. The wholesomeness of food purchased was determined using the hospital cafeteria labeling system, which designates all foods and beverages as green (healthy), yellow (less healthy), or red (unhealthy).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The study found that purchases made by people related to each other were consistently more similar than different. The magnitude of the effect was somewhat stronger for healthy foods than for unhealthy foods. To validate their social network model, the researchers surveyed more than 1,000 employees, asking them to confirm the names of people they had identified as their meal partners.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The innovative aspect of the study was the combination of complementary types of data and the use of social network analysis to examine how the eating behaviors of a large group were socially linked over a long period of time. This allowed researchers to determine whether social influence actually influences eating behavior, or whether people with similar lifestyle and food preferences are more likely to become friends and eat together, a phenomenon known as homophilia.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The study's findings have implications for workplace wellness programs, as well as public health campaigns aimed at improving eating habits. “If your eating habits influence the way your coworkers eat - if only a little - then changing your food choices for the better could benefit your coworkers too,” says Levy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">&nbsp;</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Overall, the study highlights the importance of social factors in shaping eating behaviors and the potential for social influence to promote healthier food choices. It also emphasizes the need for more research to explore the mechanisms underlying social influence on eating behaviors and to develop effective interventions to promote healthy eating in different social contexts.<o:p></o:p></span></p>