Eating While Scrolling Phone vs Watching TV: Which Triggers Weight Gain?
JAKARTA - For many people, eating while watching television or playing a mobile phone has become a daily habit. This activity feels relaxed and fun, especially during free time or holidays.
However, without realizing it, this habit can affect the amount of food we consume and have an impact on weight.
A number of studies show that eating while watching TV has the potential to cause overeating compared to eating while using a cell phone.
A study conducted by psychologists from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Massachusetts examined the influence of technological disruptions on eating patterns.
Reported by the Daily Mail UK website, this study involved 114 male and female volunteers who were divided into three groups.
- Eating while watching television
- Eating while using a smart phone
- Eat without any distractions
All participants were given the same type and amount of snacks, namely chips and chocolate. But the results were quite striking. The group watching TV consumed the most calories, an average of 164 calories. While the group without distractions only had about 131 calories. This significant difference was not found in the group of mobile phone users.
The study was published in the scientific journal Physiology & Behavior. The researchers said the results of the study showed that watching television while eating encouraged excessive eating and formed an unhealthy eating pattern.
According to the researchers, television is a very strong distraction. Visual and audio broadcasts make the brain lose focus on the satiety signal. As a result, a person does not really realize what and how much food has been consumed.
"Television acts as a distraction that makes the brain fail to record the amount of food eaten, so that hunger appears sooner," said a research report from the Worcester Polytechnic Institute Research Team.
In contrast, cell phone use did not show a similar effect. One reason is that both hands are usually busy operating a cell phone, so eating activity is more limited. While watching TV, the hands are relatively free to continue to take food without realizing it.
Overeating is not just about weight gain. Researchers emphasize that this habit is closely related to the increased risk of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disorders.
Overeating contributes to a greater risk of disease and premature death in the long term than the combined effects of alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs.