YASID: conspicuous consumption

Somebody in my book group had a story ID request which none of us
could help with.

Her description was: An older story (she belived), where the rate of
production in the US was so high that everyone had to consume enomous
amounts.  The more well off you were, the less you had to consume
(consume in terms of food and products in general).  A young woman
married beneath her station, and was embarrassed that she had to
consume so much....

Anyone have any idea of what this could be?

Thanks for any help!