UNIB20014 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Lignin, Blood Sugar, Colorectal Cancer
29 May 2018
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LECTURE'4:'EATING'BEHAVIOUR'
Eating'behaviour'is'a!BROAD!&!NEUTRAL!TERM!that'views'food'choice'within'the'context'of'
the' complexities,' intersections' and' inter-relationships' of' the' internal' and' external' human'
experience.''
- There'is'no'morality'around'eating'behaviour'–' it' is' an' objective' action' into' which' we' as'
individuals'and'society'place'value/judgements'as'either'‘good’'or'‘bad’'choices'or'food.'''
- It’s' the' dichotomous' thinking' of' our' food' choices' as' being' ‘good/healthy/right’' or'
‘bad/unhealthy/wrong’'which'causes'distress'in'our'lives.'–'leads'to'disordered'eating'and'
chronic'weight'cycling.''
WHY'IS'EATING'BEHAVIOUR'IMPORTANT'
- Invites' us' to' consider' the' interactions' of' nutrition/food' with' other' aspects' of' our' lives' –'
provides'more'nuance'and'substance'to'diet'choices.''
- We'need'to'understand'our'patterns'of'behaviour'and'motives'rather'than'be'critical'and'
harsh'when'we'make'‘bad’'food'choices.'
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CONTEXT'TO'EATING:'
The'reasons'why'we'make'food'choices'include'–'where/when/how/why.'There'are'all'kind'
of'different'factors'which'lead'us'into'making'a'specific'food'choice'–'biological/environment'
and'internal'factors.''
INTERNAL'INFLUENCES:'
• Sensations,' thoughts' or' emotions' that' a' person' experiences' within' their' own' body' leads'
them'to'seek'out'foods'high'in'fat,'sugar'or'salt'for'pleasure.'-'coping'mechanism.'
EXTERNAL'INFLUENCES:''
• Factors' that' occur' in' someone’s' external' world' that' can' influence' their' behaviour' e.g.'
convenience/cheap.'
There' are' a' number' of' ways' we' can' view' eating' behaviour' –' social/cultural/' family–' our'
experiences'around'food'as'a'child'shape'our'attitudes'as'adults/biological/'etc.'–'COMPLEX'
OUR'FOOD'CHOICES'HAVE'VERY'LITTLE'TO'DO'WITH'ACTUAL'SCIENTIFIC'NUTRTION.''
WHY'IS'IT'SO'HARD'TO'BREAK'HABITS'-'POSITIVE/NEGATIVE'REINFORCEMENT'(HABIT'LOOPS):'
- See'food,'eat'food,'feel'good.'–'trigger,'behaviour,'reward.'–'processed'applied'to'different'
contexts'e.g.'instead'of'a'physical'trigger'such'as'hunger,'we'experience'emotional'triggers'
such'as'sadness.'''
- We'not'try'to'force'ourselves'into'new'behaviours'but'to'be'mindful'and'aware'of'our'current'
ones.'–'be'curiously'aware'of'our'sensations.''–'we'are'more'likely'to'engage'in'healthier'
habits'when'we'come'less'forceful'or'critical.''
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IF'PEOPLE'DO'KNOW'WHAT'THEY'SHOULD'BE'DOING'–'WHY'NOT'DO'IT'
• Human'behaviour'is'very'complex'and'extends'beyond'knowledge'eg.'smoking–'we'are'often'
AWARE'of'the'risks'–' knowing'the'amount'of'calories'or'sugar'in'a'product'will'not'make'
people'avoid'it.''
• Lack' of' internal' awareness' (eg.' hunger/fullness' awareness,' emotions,' HABITS,' strong'
immediate'reward).'
• Level/stage'of'motivation'to'change:'unless'we'are'ready'to'change'and'have'reason'to'–'we'
will'not'change'in'the'long'term.''
STAGES'OF''CHANGE:''
YOU'HAVE'TO'GO'THROUGH'THREE'INTERNATL'STAGES'BEFORE'BEHAVIOUR'CHANGE'
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• Pre-contemplation'(awareness):'understanding'that'there'is'a'need'to'change.'
• Contemplation'(desire):'A'need'to'support'and'participate'in'the'change.'
• Determination'(knowledge):'know'how'to'change'and'the'skills'needed.'
• Action'(ability):'engaging'in'behaviour'change.''
• Maintenance'(reinforcement):'sustain'the'change.''
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HEALTH'IS'BEYONG'OUR'PERSONAL'CHOICES'AND'RESPONSILIBTY.''
We'should'be'talking'a'lot'more'about'other'factors'contributing'to'health'(race/poverty/etc)'
than'just'diet'and'exercise''
- '5-25%'of'total'health'is'attributed'to'behaviours'(75-95%'are'factors'beyond'our'control).''
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Document Summary
L e c t u r e 4 : e a t i n g b e h a v i o u r. Eating behaviour is a broad & neutral term that views food choice within the context of the complexities, intersections and inter-relationships of the internal and external human experience. There is no morality around eating behaviour it is an objective action into which we as individuals and society place value/judgements as either good" or bad" choices or food. It"s the dichotomous thinking of our food choices as being good/healthy/right" or. Leads to disordered eating and chronic weight cycling. Invites us to consider the interactions of nutrition/food with other aspects of our lives provides more nuance and substance to diet choices. We need to understand our patterns of behaviour and motives rather than be critical and harsh when we make bad" food choices. The reasons why we make food choices include where/when/how/why.
