Study Explores How Socio-Economic Factors Shape Eating Habits Through Internal Signals
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Published in the journal Food Quality and Preference, the research highlights how physiological signals, particularly those transmitted via the vagus nerve, interact with socio-economic factors to shape dietary behaviour.
The study involved 96 students from diverse socio-economic backgrounds who participated in a chocolate tasting session.
In a controlled laboratory setting, each participant was presented with a plate containing 70 milk chocolate pieces and invited to sample and rate them at their leisure. Researchers measured each student's heart rate variability (HRV) as a proxy for the activity of the vagus nerve – a part of the nervous system that regulates appetite and digestion.
The study’s lead author explained: “The findings suggest that while the vagus nerve plays a key role in transmitting signals between the gut and the brain, the extent to which these signals guide eating behaviour can vary with one’s socio-economic status. In contrast, those from lower socio-economic groups appear to show a weaker link between these physiological signals and their food consumption.”
Traditionally, disparities in diet have been attributed to differences in food access and external factors. However, this study shifts the focus towards internal regulatory processes. The data revealed that participants from more advantaged backgrounds consumed more or less chocolate depending on their vagal tone, which can signal both hunger and satiety.
Conversely, in individuals from less advantaged backgrounds, this physiological regulation was not as evident. While the research focused specifically on chocolate consumption as a model for eating behaviour, the implications may extend to other types of food and dietary patterns. However, future research is needed to explore whether similar patterns are observed across different populations and with other food categories.
Ref: Weick M, Vasiljevic M. Socio-economic status modulates the link between vagal tone and chocolate consumption. Food Quality and Preference; Volume 129, August 2025, 105491. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodqual.2025.105491
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