Anxiety and food intake in men.

The effects of acute anxiety on food intake and preferences were investigated in 12 men awaiting surgery for hernia. Their lunch intake was measured on the day prior to surgery and again after recovery, one month later. Their anxiety was rated on both test days as well as the palatability of the foods they selected and ingested ad libitum. Anxiety was significantly higher on the day before surgery than on control day. However, no hyperphagia appeared and food selection was not systematically disturbed. Protein, lipid, and carbohydrate ratios in the test meals were not affected by the level of stress. The present results are at variance with some, but not all, studies of food intake under stress in animals and humans. Among other factors (nature of stressor, intensity of anxiety, sex of the subjects), culturally determined eating habits could contribute to the discrepancies observed.