We are what we eat. We eat what we believe ... And what we believe may protect us against obesity

A new series of studies identifies social norms that protect against obesity

Social norms - shared beliefs about what is socially appropriate that lead to an obligation to behave in a certain way - have a profound effect on eating behaviours. "Avoid unhealthy food", "watch your manners", "always eat breakfast", "avoid snacking", "eat slowly", etc. affect what, when, how, and how often we eat. These are honed from birth through the positive or negative reinforcement given by parents, peers, media, and other social actors. They are crucially important, not only because they shape our behaviours, but because there may be detrimental effects when they are violated.

A new series of studies - issuing from McGill University and the University of Alberta and published in the October issue of Appetite - examines Americans’ beliefs about appropriate eating and how these shape behaviours and health outcomes. This groundbreaking work found that acting in a way that is consistent with norms such as "eat only until content", "always eat breakfast", "avoid snacking", "eat fruits and vegetables", and "manage your portions" was associated with a lower Body Mass Index, and greater body satisfaction and subjective health. Conversely, violating these norms was associated with a higher Body Mass Index.

According to the researchers, Laurette Dubé of McGill University and Robert Fisher of the University of Alberta, this is a key finding. "With increased obesity rates, this finding is crucial and could help governments, as well as families, communities, media, businesses and other organizations, design more appropriate interventions to guide and shape what people believe about appropriate eating habits," says Dubé, James McGill Chair of Consumer and Lifestyle Psychology and Marketing.

According to Fisher, since culture and society work together to create a coherent and self-sustaining system, "this study’s findings can help transform our current culture and society so that the healthy choice is the natural choice."

About the McGill World Platform for Health and Economic Convergence

Building upon the assets of Canada’s premiere research academic institution, the McGill World Platform for Health and Economic Convergence (MWP)’s mission is to integrate developments in science, policy, innovation, and education to mainstream health into the management and economic decisions that impact health and healthcare and, conversely, to weave management and economic considerations into public health and health care systems design and delivery. To do so, the MWP collaborates with the best minds and leading organizations in private industry, health, and social domains heading development and innovation in genetics, neuroscience, management, and computational systems sciences. The MWP carries out cutting-edge research and innovative knowledge-to-action programs and activities to achieve open innovation, social change and collective action, policy convergence, as well as trans-disciplinary and distributed education and research on issues at the intersection of health and economics.