Influence of a Monopoly Game on Subtle Behaviors

Inclusion Criteria

• Ages 19-25
• Self-identified Hispanic ethnicity
• Born in the United States
• Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥18.5 and ≤30 kg/m2
• A score on the MacArthur scale of subjective social status ≥3 and ≤8
• No self-report of acute or chronic disease (heart disease, diabetes, gastrointestinal disorders in particular)
• No plans for extended travel (>1 week) within the next 2 months
• No current tobacco use
• Capable and willing to give informed consent, understand inclusion criteria, and accept the randomized assignment

Exclusion Criteria

• Never played monopoly before
• Not born in the United States
• Strict dietary restrictions (vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free/lactose intolerant, nut-allergies)
• Participation in any weight reduction program, weight-loss diet, or other special diet within the previous 3 months
• Weight loss or gain of ≥10 pounds in the past 6 months for any reason except post-partum weight loss
• Currently taking medication that suppresses or stimulates appetite
• Current smoker or quit smoking less than 6 months prior
• Any major disease, including:
• Active cancer or cancer requiring treatment in the past 2 years (except nonmelanoma skin cancer).
• Active or chronic infections, including self-reported HIV positivity and active tuberculosis.
• Diagnosis of cardiovascular disease
• Gastrointestinal disease, including inflammatory bowel disease that has required treatment in the past year, celiac disease, recent of significant abdominal surgery
• Active renal disease
• Lung disease such as chronic obstructive airway disease requiring use of oxygen
• Diagnosis of diabetes (type 1 or type 2)
• Uncontrolled psychiatric disease (such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder) that, in the opinion of the investigators, would impede conduct of the trial or completion of procedures
• A score on the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI) (Derogatis & Melisaratos, 1983) that exceeds the 90th percentile
• History of or current eating disorders, or an Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) score >20.
• Conditions or behaviors likely to effect the conduct of the trial: unable or unwilling to give informed consent; unable to communicate with the pertinent clinic staff; another household member is a participant or staff member in the trial; unwilling to accept social status assignment by randomization; current or anticipated participation in another intervention research project that would interfere with the intervention offered in the trial; likely to move away from participating university before visits are completed; unable to walk 0.25 mile in 10 minutes.
• Currently taking antidepressant, steroid, or thyroid medication, unless dosage has been stable for at least 6 months.
• A recent or ongoing problem with drug abuse or addiction.
• Excessive alcohol intake, either acute or chronic, defined as any one of the following: 1) average consumption of 3 or more alcohol containing beverages daily; 2) consumption of 7 or more alcoholic beverages within a 24-hr period in the past 12 months; or 3) other evidence available to clinic staff.
• Not willing to be randomized to any of the two experimental conditions.
• Pregnancy and childbearing: currently pregnant or less than 3 months post-partum; currently nursing or within 6 weeks of having completed nursing; pregnancy anticipated during study; unwilling to report possible or confirmed pregnancies promptly during the course of the trial; unwilling to take adequate contraceptive measures if potentially fertile.
• Any other conditions which, in opinion of the investigators, would adversely affect the conduct of the trial.