Refined Carbohydrate Consumption and Facial Attractiveness

Since the latter half of the 20th century, there has been a significant rise in the consumption of refined carbohydrates, which has been linked to various health issues including obesity, insulin resistance, type II diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and dental caries. This study explores whether such dietary habits could also impact facial attractiveness. The research analyzed facial attractiveness based on assessments by raters of the opposite sex, correlating it with refined carbohydrate intake measured by the glycemic load of meals likely to be high-risk (breakfast, afternoon snack, and between-meal snack). The findings indicated that individuals with higher glycemic loads between meals were rated as more attractive by the opposite sex. Structural equation modeling suggested that for men, this might be due to an increased perceived age, while for women, it could relate to increased femininity. The study discusses these outcomes in the context of dietary adaptations or maladaptations in the modern dietary environment. (See CNP Article in Nutritional Psychology here: https://www.nutritional-psychology.org/can-our-facial-attractiveness-depend-on-what-we-just-ate/) [NPID: dietary switch, evolutionary diet, facial attractiveness, glycemic load, refined carbohydrates, social trait, sugars]

Year: 2020

Reference: Berticat, C., Durand, V., & Raymond, M. (2020). Refined Carbohydrate Consumption and Facial Attractiveness. Evolutionary psychology : an international journal of evolutionary approaches to psychology and behavior, 18(4), 1474704920960440. https://doi.org/10.1177/1474704920960440