Many of us are lucky enough to have some degree of choice over what we eat. But are the decisions we make about our diet as free as we assume?
It appears we’re hugely influenced by other people—especially those closest to us—when it comes to what we eat. Research has found that the closer and stronger two people’s connection is, the more sway they have over each other’s food choices. This means social signals generally encourage us to eat more. Being around healthy eaters may guide you to eat healthier as well, though. Eating habits are also affected by what we see. “There is proof that, if you see pictures of food, that visual stimulation (刺激) can inspire your desire to cat,” says a UK scientist, Suzanne Higgs.
Social media is one place where visual and social signals meet. Evidence shows if friends in your social network post (发帖子) regularly about particular types of food, it could lead you to copy them, for better or for worse. And research indicates that social media might be changing our relationship with food, making us think differently about what we eat. “If all your friends on social media are posting pictures of themselves consuming fast food, it’s going to set a norm that eating fast food is what people do,” says Higgs.
Research suggests we’re more likely to be attracted by photos of fast food, especially some rich in saturated fat (饱和脂肪), which can make us feel good, says Ethan Pancer, a professor in Canada. Humans are biologically prepared to seek out high-calorie food—an ability that helped our ancestors survive when they searched for food.
“Healthier foods are often seen as boring in comparison, and processed food is considered ‘cool’,” a researcher from France, Tina Tessitore, adds that, “In advertising, you see unhealthy food in social settings — people having a barbeque with friends, for example, while healthy food usually focuses more on the nutritional value. If you saw friends eating salad together, it wouldn’t seem so true.” All of the findings are bothering researchers about the effects of social media, whether good or bad.
12. The underlined word “sway” in para.2 is closest in meaning to“______”.
A.influence | B.movement | C.benefit | D.harm |
13. Which of the statements might Suzanne Higgs agree with?
A.Seeing photos of familiar food prevents you from eating more. |
B.Social media has more influence on your dieting than close friends. |
C.You may fall into the habit of fast food consumption following social media. |
D.You’re sure to imitate what others make and eat if you regularly surf the Internet. |
14. What can we infer from the article?
A.People are free to make a choice on what to eat. |
B.Human beings are born to choose food rich in calorie. |
C.The young generation prefer fast food because it’s “cool”. |
D.You’ll be easily encouraged to pick out food by experts. |
15. What’s the author’s main purpose in writing the article?
A.To present factors affecting eating habits. |
B.To explain the reasons for advertising food. |
C.To raise public awareness of physical health. |
D.To conclude findings of a new research. |