Image from the Guardian

We’ve all heard jokes about compensating for size, but have you heard about compensating with (super) size?

A new report out by the Journal of Consumer Research has found two interesting explanations for why Americans are susceptible to super-sizing.

First, we tend to associate larger food sizes with higher social status.

Researchers asked people to judge a person’s status, based on whether he or she picked the largest coffee, smoothie, or pizza offered. The people choosing the biggest portion were judged to have the highest status.

Second, when we’re feeling powerless, we’re more likely to compensate by choosing a larger size.  On days when we’re feel better about ourselves, we size down.

What do these results say about eating habits?  Could America’s obesity problem be blamed on low-self esteem?  Will you super-size next time?