Viewing Television While Eating Impairs the Ability to Accurately Estimate Total Amount of Food Consumed

Studies have shown that food intake increases with the amount of television watched per day. This pilot study of 20 undergraduates aimed to demonstrate how cognitive involvement in viewing television can impair one's ability to perceive and track the amount of food consumed. This impairment could in part account for why increased television viewing is directly correlated with a higher body mass index (BMI). In trial A, participants were asked to view a relatively novel television show and simultaneously eat macaroni and cheese at a natural pace. At the conclusion of the program, participants completed a brief comprehension quiz testing them on the content of the television show. They were also asked to estimate how many units (1 unit = 1.5 ounces, 42 g) of food they had eaten. In trial B, the same participants were asked to consume the same amount of macaroni and cheese, without viewing television. After the conclusion of both conditions, the experimenter weighed the plate of food against its initial weight and measured the true difference in weight against the participant's estimation. Participants did not consume a significantly greater amount of food in trial A; however, this could be due to a ceiling effect of the amount of food offered. A weak negative correlation was found between increased quiz score indicating greater comprehension of the television content and decreased accuracy in unit estimation. Fourteen of the 20 participants were less accurate in their estimation of units consumed under trial A than trial B, with no effect of sex on estimation accuracy. This study supports the finding that television viewing impairs people's ability to accurately estimate food consumption during viewing, which may lead to an unintentional consumption of more calories and fat, potentially resulting in a greater likelihood of becoming overweight or obese.