You are what you eat is an age-old saying. Now, there’s a new twist: You are what your co-workers eat. New research suggests whether you choose a salad or a cheeseburger at work is heavily influenced by your colleagues’ food choices.
When it comes to dining at work, there’s no shortage of group thinking going on. That may partially explain how social networks can lead to increased risks of obesity. And it’s more than just influence from best friends. Even casual acquaintances can alter someone’s eating patterns.
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital looked at the collective social influence of food choices among 6,000 hospital employees who ate in the cafeteria over a two-year period. They tracked food purchases through identification cards. The social circles were correlated by determining when and where food purchases were made.
By analyzing more than 3 million purchases, they found food choices were more alike than not. Sometimes, friends can be a good influence: Purchases of healthy foods was somewhat more common than unhealthy meals.
How do our social connections influence food choices? Peer pressure is one reason. That influence can go both ways, leading to better food choices or creating an implicit “freedom” to indulge.
The findings have some practical implications, including encouraging healthy eating by having eateries offer two-for-one specials on fruits and salads but no discounts on unhealthier fare.
If your lunch partners are also healthy eaters, sitting down to eat together could be a great chance for all of you to enjoy more than just interesting conversation. You might just help each other make better meal choices.