Understanding eating interventions through an evolutionary lens

Abstract

ABSTRACT Health psychologists aim to improve eating behaviour to achieve health. Yet the effectiveness of healthy eating interventions is often minimal. This ineffectiveness may be in part because many healthy eating interventions are in a battle against evolved mechanisms (e.g., hedonic and related systems) that promote the consumption of energy-dense foods. Such foods, once rare, are now abundant in our obesogenic society, and consequently the evolved desire for energy-dense foods can now easily lead to the overconsumption of sugary, processed, and unhealthy foods. However, humans have other evolved mechanisms that also impact eating behaviour. In this article, therefore, we review eating interventions through an evolutionary lens, and describe evolved mechanisms that are relevant to eating behaviour. We discuss how using this lens could help health psychologists design more effective eating interventions and policies. By learning to work with human nature, eating interventions can more effectively promote healthier eating and healthier lives.