Question 1

If your close friend becomes obese, the odds of you likewise becoming obese increase. This best illustrates the impact of ________ on obesity.

Accepted Answer

Social influence refers to the impact that others have on our behavior, attitudes, and opinions. In the case of obesity, if someone close to us (such as a friend) becomes obese, it can influence our own eating habits and level of physical activity, leading to an increased risk of obesity. This can be due to social eating patterns, a lack of motivation to exercise, or the normalization of larger body sizes in one's social group.

Question 2

An integrated understanding of rising obesity rates in terms of set points, culturally learned taste preferences, and the ready availability of large food portions is best illustrated by

Accepted Answer

A biopsychosocial approach takes into account biological (set points), psychological (learned taste preferences), and social/cultural (large food portions) factors in understanding rising obesity rates. Homeostasis and incentive theory only address limited aspects of this issue, while the evolutionary perspective does not fully account for cultural changes that contribute to obesity rates.

Question 3

In one experiment, professional actors played the role of either normal-weight or overweight job applicants. Research participants' willingness to hire the applicants revealed

Accepted Answer

The experiment revealed that there was greater discrimination against overweight women than against overweight men.

Question 4

A dieter whose weight falls below his or her set point is likely to experience a(n)

Accepted Answer

When a dieter's weight falls below his or her set point, the body's natural response is to increase hunger and decrease metabolic rate in an attempt to regain the lost weight. This is due to the body's survival instincts and its natural tendency to resist prolonged periods of energy deficit.

Question 5

Given an obese parent, boys are at a(n) ________ risk for obesity and girls are at a(n) ________ risk for obesity.

Accepted Answer

Both boys and girls with an obese parent are at an increased risk for obesity due to genetic and environmental factors.

Question 6

The recipes commonly used in countries with hot climates are more likely to include ________ than those in countries with colder climates.

Accepted Answer

Spices are commonly used in countries with hot climates as they help to cool down the body by inducing sweat. Additionally, spices have antimicrobial properties that were historically important in hotter climates where food spoilage was more prevalent.

Question 7

The relative risk of death among healthy nonsmokers is highest for

Accepted Answer

Overweight men have the highest relative risk of death among healthy nonsmokers. This is because overweight men are more likely to develop chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, and cancer, which can lead to death.

Question 8

The World Health Organization identifies obesity as a high

Accepted Answer

The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies obesity based on a person's body mass index (BMI), which is calculated using a person's weight and height. BMI is a measure of body fat based on height and weight, and it is used to screen for weight categories that can lead to health problems, such as obesity.

Question 9

Evidence that obesity is influenced by factors in addition to genetics includes the fact that

Accepted Answer

The increase in average weight over time suggests environmental and lifestyle factors, such as diet and physical activity, play a significant role in obesity, beyond just genetics.

Question 10

New research has linked women's obesity to their risk of late-life

Accepted Answer

According to the research, women who are obese in middle age have a significantly higher risk of cognitive decline in late-life compared to women who maintain a healthy weight.

Question 11

The relentless pursuit of thinness puts people at ________ risk for depression and ________ risk for binge eating.

Accepted Answer

The pursuit of thinness can increase the risk of depression due to the pressure and dissatisfaction with one's body image. At the same time, it also increases the risk for binge eating as restrictive dieting and intense food cravings can lead to episodes of uncontrolled eating.

Question 12

By dramatically reducing her daily caloric intake, Marilyn plans to reduce her normal body weight by 10 to 15 percent. Research suggests that after three or four weeks of sustained dieting, Marilyn will

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that sustained dieting can lead to a decrease in metabolic rate, as the body adjusts to the lower caloric intake. It is unlikely that Marilyn's blood glucose levels would increase as a result of reduced caloric intake, and while she may experience some temporary decrease in feelings of hunger, this is unlikely to persist after three or four weeks. There is no evidence to suggest that sustained dieting can permanently lower the body's set point for weight.

Question 13

When offered as many servings of ice cream as they would like to eat, people are likely to eat more if they

Accepted Answer

Offering a wide variety of ice cream flavors can increase consumption because people may want to try multiple flavors. This is supported by research showing that offering a variety of foods can increase overall intake. The other options (small bowls, small spoons, and eating alone) may have some effect on consumption but are not as strong as the effect of variety.

Question 14

A body that can store fat has the advantage of possessing

Accepted Answer

A body that can store fat has the advantage of possessing stored energy, which can be used during periods of food scarcity or increased energy demand. Low blood pressure, a low set point, and reduced levels of serotonin are not necessarily related to fat storage.

Question 15

Judy found that her party guests ate less from a very large plate of cupcakes that were cut in half rather than whole. This best illustrates

Accepted Answer

Unit bias refers to the tendency for individuals to consume a standard serving size or unit of food, regardless of the actual amount of food present. In this case, guests may have eaten less from the half-cupcake because they perceived it as a standard unit of food, while they may have eaten more from the whole cupcake because it appeared larger and less like a single serving size.

Question 16

When people's images on a video monitor are widened to make them look fatter, observers perceive them as

Accepted Answer

Observers tend to perceive widened images as less sincere and less friendly due to negative stereotypes associated with body size.

Question 17

The tendency to eat more food when eating with others illustrates a phenomenon called

Accepted Answer

Social facilitation refers to the tendency for people to perform differently when in the presence of others, often leading to increased consumption of food when eating in social settings.

Question 18

When encouraged to eat their fill of M&M's, people ate more when given a large rather than a small serving spoon. This most clearly reflects

Accepted Answer

This phenomenon is known as the unit bias, where people tend to consume all of a given unit of food, regardless of its actual size or amount. In this case, the larger spoon led people to take larger units of M&M's, causing them to eat more overall.

Question 19

With sleep deprivation, the levels of leptin ________ and the levels of ghrelin ________.

Accepted Answer

Sleep deprivation lowers levels of leptin, which can lead to increased appetite and overeating, and raises levels of ghrelin, which can increase hunger and food intake.

Question 20

Research on obesity and weight control indicates that

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that fat tissue requires fewer calories to maintain than lean tissue, which means that reducing calorie intake and increasing physical activity are important for weight loss and weight maintenance. The other options are not supported by research on obesity and weight control.

Quiz 32: Basic Motivational Concepts and Hunger