Subjective Social Status and Energy Balance

Subjective social status (SSS) is inversely associated with body fatness. The physiological and psychological effects of low social status may spur increased energy intake as a strategy to buffer against future food scarcity. Investigators' central hypothesis is that females with low SSS will not compensate for excess calorie consumption in a single large meal as well as individuals with high SSS, and will therefore remain in positive energy balance leading to body fat gain in response to daily large meals. Investigators' objective is to understand the influence of SSS on eating behavior, weight gain, and energetic compensation. Investigators conducted a 14-day feeding protocol that consisted of consumption of a lunch-time meal that was 60% of participants' estimated 24-hour energy requirements each day in female participants between 20-50 years, with a body mass index between 25- 30 kg/m2. Free-living food intake was recorded using the Remote Food Photography Method outside of the lab on days 1-2 (early), 7-8 (middle), and 12-13 (late), to measure compensation in response to the large lunch. 24-Hour energy balance, 24 hour intake and post-lunch energy intake were calculated for those days. Investigators measured body composition using Dual energy x ray absorptiometry (DXA), weight and resting energy expenditure at the baseline and at the end of the 14 days of the intervention.