1 hr ago

Why Television Watching Can Lead to More Snacking

Watching TV can make it harder to notice how much food you are eating.

Your attention is focused on the programme instead of your snack.

This means you may keep reaching for more without thinking about it.

Foods like crisps and popcorn are especially easy to eat quickly.

Seeing food adverts can also make you want to eat.

Over time, eating while watching TV can become a routine.

You can still have a snack if you are hungry.

Putting a small portion in a bowl can help you keep track of it.

Key facts

Main effect: Watching TV can make it easier to lose track of how much you eat.
Contributing foods: Crisps, biscuits, chocolate and popcorn are easy to eat quickly.
Key behavior: People may continue reaching for snacks while following a programme.
Habit factor: Snacking can become associated with watching TV, even when someone is not hungry.
Advertising effect: Food adverts can prompt people to eat when they were not thinking about food.
Practical tip: Portion snacks into a bowl instead of taking the entire packet.

firstpost.com · 1 hr ago