The presence of friends increases food intake in youth.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Friendship may be uniquely relevant and influential to youths' eating behavior.

Objective

This study examined how overweight and nonoverweight youths adjust their level of eating as a function of their familiarity with their eating partner.

Design

Twenty-three overweight and 42 nonoverweight youths had the opportunity to play and eat with a friend (n = 26) or with an unfamiliar peer (n = 39). The dependent variables of interest were the amount of nutrient-dense and energy-dense foods children consumed and their total energy intake.

Results

Participants eating with a friend ate substantially more than did participants eating with an unfamiliar peer. Furthermore, overweight youth, but not nonoverweight youth, who ate with an overweight partner (friend

SUBMITTER: Salvy SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2709307 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature