Research shows that people who take pictures of their meals and share them on social media take longer to feel full and have a greater desire for a second helping, leading to weight gain and an increase in waist circumference. Each year, billions of smartphone photos are shared on social media by food enthusiasts wanting to share their experiences with others. Survey studies indicate that nearly 70 percent of millennials—those born in the 1980s and 1990s—regularly share food photos online before eating.
Researchers at Georgia Southern University in the United States recruited 145 students and divided them into two groups. Both groups were given plates of cheese crackers to snack on, but members of the first group were asked to take a picture of the crackers before eating. Immediately after eating, they were asked to rate their enjoyment of the crackers and whether they wanted more.
Results published in the journal "Appetite" showed that those who took pictures of the crackers before consuming them reported higher enjoyment ratings and a greater desire for seconds. The researchers noted that "taking pictures seems to change the way the brain perceives food, increasing the desire for more calories. Our findings suggest that taking photos leads to an increased desire to eat after consumption. The effects were more pronounced in volunteers who were given smaller portions—six crackers instead of twelve."
The researchers warned that those looking to consume smaller portions, especially of tempting foods they wish to reduce, should avoid taking pictures of what they are eating, according to the Daily Mail.
