Effect of discrimination on food decisions

This research examined effects of discrimination on food decisions. In Study 1, reflecting upon past experiences of discrimination, as compared to a neutral topic, caused an increased desire to consume unhealthy foods. In Study 2, participants received a negative evaluation from a biased or fair grader. Past experiences with discrimination moderated how people responded to the feedback. Those participants who had infrequent past experiences with discrimination were most likely to endorse unhealthy food options after receiving the biased evaluation. Those who scored high on past discrimination were unaffected by experimental condition and endorsed similar numbers of healthy and unhealthy food options after receiving the evaluative feedback. When offered an actual snack, those who accepted one were more likely to choose an unhealthy option following discrimination, regardless of past discrimination level. These results suggest that discrimination may be affecting self-regulatory capacity in regard to food choices. © 2010 Psychology Press.

Duke Scholars

Author Laura Smart Richman Population Health Sciences