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- Title
Do Social Activities Substitute for Food in Youth?
- Authors
Salvy, Sarah-Jeanne; Nitecki, Lauren A.; Epstein, Leonard H.
- Abstract
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. 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. 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. 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. Social interactions can serve as a substitute for food in both lean and overweight youth.
- Subjects
SOCIAL interaction; ADOLESCENT nutrition; BEHAVIORAL economics; OVERWEIGHT children; SOCIOECONOMICS
- Publication
Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 2009, Vol 38, Issue 3, p205
- ISSN
0883-6612
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s12160-009-9145-0