What does science say about 'eating and using the phone'?

New research published in the journal Scientific ReportsI has looked at the health effects of this behavior.

Smartphone use has been found to be a distraction during meals. Evidence suggests that teens who are distracted during mealtimes are more likely to consume unhealthy foods, including ultra-processed foods.

Many people, especially teenagers, have the habit of eating while surfing the phone.

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This new study aims to better understand the harmful effects of mealtime distractions on diet quality and eating habits of adolescents, according to the medical news site News Medical.

Purpose of the study

Researchers from the University of Castilla-La Mancha, Cuenca (Spain), in collaboration with experts at the University of Castilla-La Mancha (Ecuador), along with the Universidad Autónoma de Chile and the Andres Bello University (Chile), analyzed data from 826 adolescents aged 12 to 17. The study aimed to determine the impact of mealtime distractions on the consumption of ultra-processed foods and adherence to a healthy Mediterranean diet.

The study analyzed a variety of distractions during meals, such as talking on the phone, sending text messages or emails, scrolling through social media, watching TV, or eating while standing.

The authors used the Children and Adolescents Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (KIDMED) to assess adherence to a healthy diet and used a food frequency questionnaire to determine consumption of ultraprocessed foods.

Increased consumption of ultra-processed foods, decreased healthy eating

Results found that being distracted while eating increased consumption of ultra-processed foods, which are unhealthy, and decreased healthy eating.

Using your phone or scrolling through social media while eating increases your likelihood of consuming more ultra-processed foods

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Notably, using your phone or scrolling through social media while eating increases your likelihood of consuming more ultra-processed foods and distracts you from adhering to a healthier diet, according to News Medical.

Meanwhile, eating while watching TV or standing while eating, although not increasing the likelihood of eating more ultra-processed foods, distracts from sticking to a healthy diet.

These results support the theory that mindful eating improves diet quality and overall health through healthier food choices.

On the other hand, distraction while eating reduces attention to food and awareness of consumption, promotes “impulsive” food choices, reduced responsiveness to hunger and fullness cues, and favors consumption of fast and convenient foods over fresh, nutritious foods.

The authors hypothesize that using social media or watching TV while eating may increase exposure to unhealthy food advertisements, potentially influencing adolescents' food choices and possibly distracting them from choosing healthy foods, according to News Medical.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/khoa-hoc-noi-gi-ve-viec-vua-an-vua-dung-dien-thoai-185250405153211574.htm