Disadvantages of watching TV while eating: Imagine, hot food is placed in front of you and your attention is more on the mobile screen than on the plate. One video ends, another starts and in the meantime it is not known when the plate has been cleaned. This daily habit of many people seems normal, but continuously staring at the screen while eating can affect your eating habits. Especially when the focus is on TV, mobile or any other screen instead of eating, the person may miss the signals of fullness and may end up eating more than required. Now the question is, why can watching the screen while eating increase the food intake? Let us know the information related to this-
Why can looking at a screen while eating increase your food intake?
When our attention is on a video, movie or social media instead of eating, we pay less attention to how much we have eaten and how fast we are eating. This is called distracted eating. In such a situation, a person may pay less attention to taste, hunger and signs of fullness. This is the reason why the habit of eating food while watching TV or mobile can promote overeating. Some research has also found a connection between eating with a screen and consuming more calories, although its effect is not the same in every person.
Why is it important to eat slowly and carefully?
Just paying attention to your plate while eating allows you to chew your food better and recognize your hunger cues. Eating slowly also gives the brain time to sense the ‘fullness’ signals from the body. This is why mindful eating can help in managing weight and eating habits in a better way.
This habit is also related to digestion
Chewing food thoroughly is the first important part of the digestion process. If a person eats food too fast while watching the screen or does not chew the food properly, he may experience problems like heaviness in the stomach, gas or discomfort. However, it would not be right to say that just switching off the TV or mobile will solve every digestion problem. Digestion is affected by many factors like eating habits, quantity of food, fiber, water and physical activity.
Adopt ‘no-screen meal’ rule from today
If you often have the habit of looking at mobile or playing TV while eating, then start with just one meal a day. Instead of keeping the mobile with the food plate, keep it at a distance and switch off the TV and eat.