VCE Food Studies (Year 12) · Unit 3 — Food Choice, Health and Wellbeing · 16m read

Food Choice — Physiological, Psychological and Social Factors

Why do we eat what we eat? Hunger is only part of it — emotions, culture, family, marketing and cost all play a role.

Learning objective: Analyse the factors that influence food choice and behaviour.

By the end of this lesson you can:

• I can explain hunger, satiety and appetite.
• I can analyse psychological and social influences.
• I can discuss food behaviours across the life stages.

Food choice is a mixing desk. Hunger, mood, friends, culture, advertising and cost are sliders on a mixing desk. Each meal is a mix — and the sliders shift depending on the day.

Food Choice — Physiological, Psychological and Social Factors

PHYSIOLOGICAL FACTORS:
• Hunger and satiety signals (hormones such as ghrelin and leptin), appetite, taste preferences.

PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS:
• Emotions, stress, habits, food memories, beliefs about health.

SOCIAL AND CULTURAL FACTORS:
• Family, peers, culture and religion, social media, food marketing.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS:
• Cost, access, time, food environment (fast food outlets nearby).

LIFE STAGES:
• Children, adolescents, adults and older people have different needs and influences.

| Factor type | Examples |
|---|---|
| Physiological | Hunger, satiety, appetite hormones (ghrelin, leptin), taste preferences |
| Psychological | Mood, stress, emotional eating, habits |
| Social | Family, peers, culture, media |
| Environmental | Access, cost, availability, food deserts |
| Evolutionary | Preference for sweet/fatty energy-dense foods |

Key ideas at a glance

• Use specific terms: Ghrelin, leptin, satiety.
• Discuss interaction: Multiple factors.
• Consider equity: Access and cost.
• Media literacy: Advertising influence.

Worked example (Medium)

Explain why adolescents may choose fast food.

1. Social. Peer influence and social gatherings.
2. Economic. Cheap and accessible.
3. Marketing. Targeted advertising on social media.

Answer: Peers, cost, access and marketing all influence adolescent choices.

Worked example (Hard)

Explain why a stressed student might choose chips over fruit.

1. Psychological. Stress triggers comfort eating.
2. Evolutionary. Preference for salty, fatty foods.
3. Environmental. Vending machine convenience.

Answer: Stress, evolved preferences and convenience combine to drive the choice.

Common mistakes

• Single-cause explanations Food choice is multi-factorial. Fix: Discuss several factors.

Hunger hormones

Ghrelin (from the stomach) signals hunger and rises before meals. Leptin (from fat cells) signals fullness over the longer term.

Sleep deprivation can raise ghrelin and lower leptin, increasing appetite.

Practice questions

1. The feeling of fullness is called:

   1. Appetite
   2. Satiety
   3. Hunger
   4. Craving

   (1 marks)

2. Give one way social media influences food choice.

   (2 marks)

3. Ghrelin signals:

   1. Fullness
   2. Hunger
   3. Thirst
   4. Sleep

   (1 marks)

4. Explain a social factor influencing food choice.

   (2 marks)

Summary

• Physiological, psychological, social, environmental factors.
• Hunger vs appetite vs satiety.
• Life-stage differences.
• Physiological, psychological, social, environmental factors.