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Meal-time smartphone use in an obesogenic environment: Two longitudinal observational studies
While there is extensive research on how other digital screens (e.g., televisions) influence eating behavior, little is known about the impact of smartphone use during meals. Yong et al. (2021) explored how smartphones are used during mealtime, whether phone use patterns vary among users, and how specific phone activities (particularly food photography) affect food consumption and enjoyment. The authors used the experience sampling approach to follow 1,780 meals in two experiments. In Study 1, 137 young adults reported their mealtime smartphone use three times a day over seven consecutive days. They recorded whether they used their phones and what functions they engaged with during meals. In Study 2, 71 young adults were similarly tracked for three meals a day over seven days, with their meals randomly assigned to one of three conditions: food photography, non-food photography, or no phone use. The participants reported the quantity and satisfaction of meals consumed. The results showed that most participants (85.3%) used their phones during at least one meal, with an average frequency of 27.1% of meals involving phone use. Unlike other digital screens, smartphone use during meals includes a variety of social and nonsocial activities. Specific phone behaviors had different effects on food intake. In Study 2, participants tended to eat more when engaging in non-food photography, but this pattern was not observed when they used their phones for food photography. The findings highlight the widespread and varied nature of smartphone use during meals, distinguishing mobile phones from traditional digital screens. [NPID: Mobile phones, obesogenic environment, screen time, technology, young adults]
Year: 2021
