Study: people constantly glued to their phones are more likely to have weight problems
Rice University: high media multitasking among young adults correlates with higher BMI — smartphones are linked to obesity risk.
Rice University: high media multitasking among young adults correlates with higher BMI — smartphones are linked to obesity risk.
Rice University has identified a link between excess weight and young people being constantly distracted by their phones. Researchers conducted their study in two stages. First, 132 volunteers aged 18–23 answered questions, while specialists evaluated their media multitasking score. This indicator reflects the simultaneous use of and switching between different electronic devices.
It also shows how often a person uses smartphones and tablets, including in inappropriate settings (during personal conversations, at work). At the same time, body mass index (BMI) was measured. It turned out that there is a direct correlation — high media multitasking scores correlated with elevated BMI. In other words, people who used mobile devices actively and not always appropriately had more body fat.
In the second part of the study, 72 volunteers underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). During the scan, they were shown a series of images, some of which featured unhealthy foods. It turned out that people with high media multitasking scores displayed distinctive patterns of brain activity.
An imbalance was recorded in the activity of the striatum and orbitofrontal cortex, favoring reward-related processing. Researchers went further: using GPS trackers in these participants' smartphones, they found out how much time they spent at various food outlets. The geolocation data collected confirmed the link between excessive smartphone use and a higher risk of obesity.
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