Description
Previous studies have explored how overweight targets are perceived and the physical and psychological characteristics commonly used to describe them. The current study experimentally investigated the relationship between a target?s weight and his or her diet choices, and the characteristics used to describe him or her. The participants were exposed to one of four situations (overweight/unhealthy diet, overweight/healthy diet, average-weight/unhealthy diet, average-weight/ healthy diet) where they were shown a picture and a short description of the target. It is likely that overweight and unhealthy diet targets were rated lower on questions pertaining to physical health. Regardless of weight, healthy diet targets will likely be rated higher than unhealthy diet targets for positive psychological attributes. Overall, overweight/unhealthy diet targets will likely be rated the lowest in all three categories (positive psychological attributes, negative psychological attributes, and physical attributes).
How Diet Choices and Weight Change Person Perception
Previous studies have explored how overweight targets are perceived and the physical and psychological characteristics commonly used to describe them. The current study experimentally investigated the relationship between a target?s weight and his or her diet choices, and the characteristics used to describe him or her. The participants were exposed to one of four situations (overweight/unhealthy diet, overweight/healthy diet, average-weight/unhealthy diet, average-weight/ healthy diet) where they were shown a picture and a short description of the target. It is likely that overweight and unhealthy diet targets were rated lower on questions pertaining to physical health. Regardless of weight, healthy diet targets will likely be rated higher than unhealthy diet targets for positive psychological attributes. Overall, overweight/unhealthy diet targets will likely be rated the lowest in all three categories (positive psychological attributes, negative psychological attributes, and physical attributes).