Experiencing objectification encourages a preference for indulgent foods

Overweight or obesity, often linked to excessive consumption of unhealthy foods, increases the risk of developing various chronic diseases. The present study aims to systematically investigate the effect of suffering from objectification on a preference for indulgent food. We found across five studies (Chinese participants, N = 1011) that individuals who endure a higher level of objectification exhibit a greater intention to consume indulgent foods, employing a longitudinal survey (Study 1) and a series of fully controlled experiments (Studies 2a-3). Specifically, Study 1 revealed a positive association between experiencing objectification and the consumption of indulgent foods. Studies 2a-2c further demonstrated a causal relationship between experiencing objectification and a preference for indulgent food using different manipulation paradigms and measurements. In Study 3, we replicated this effect and further tested the mediating role of emotional distress in the process. Taken together, our findings suggest that objectification, as an inconspicuous interpersonal maltreatment, heightens individuals’ emotional distress and then fosters their preference for indulgent food.