Using multiple screen devices simultaneously while snacking may influence food choices, revealed new study.

‘Not every form of multitasking seems to be harmful for one's diet. If you enjoy using multiple screens together, it might actually help your food choices.’

For the study, now published in Computers in Human Behavior, 140 participants watched an episode of "Two and a Half Men," without any scenes that included food and eating, so that eating behaviors weren't influenced. Commercials were also carefully selected to avoid those advertising food or drinks. 




There were four groups of participants who followed one of four scenarios: watching TV only; watching TV and texting; watching TV, texting, reading an article online and filling out a quiz; and watching TV, texting and shopping online. Each participant had a choice of healthy snacks - almonds, grape tomatoes and carrots - or unhealthy snacks - potato chips, chocolates and candy.
The third scenario, involving an online article and quiz, was rated the most difficult and the least enjoyable combination. Participants in this group who chose unhealthy snacks ate 32 percent more healthy food than unhealthy food. In general, most people in this group picked only one healthy snack and two junk food snacks.
However, the group that watched TV, texted and shopped online consumed, on average, 26 percent more healthy snacks than unhealthy.
And those who only watched TV ate the most of both types of snacks.
Advertisement
It could be that unpleasant media multitasking increases cognitive load, so it's harder for people to have control over snack selection and rationalize with themselves about healthy eating, Kononova said. It could also be "stress eating," during which people experience unpleasant feelings and turn to more pleasant foods.
Advertisement
Co-authors of the study are Anna McAlister, from the Curtis L. Gerrish School of Business, Endicott College, and Hyun Jung Oh, from the Department of Health and Strategic Communication, CHA University, South Korea.
Source-Newswise