Can Instagram affect your weight? Read what the study revealed

First Published Oct 5, 2021, 10:00 PM IST

According to one study, uploading food photographs on social media helped meals taste better because snapping pictures causes the brain to focus more on the smell and taste of the food.

According to research, food enthusiasts who post food photos on Instagram to share their experience with others are more likely to want more, impacting their waistline. According to surveys, over 70% of millennials (born between the 1980s and 1990s) routinely post photos before consuming them. According to the Daily Mail, it is also one of the most popular themes on social networking sites.
 

As per the study conducted by academics at Georgia Southern University in the United States, diners who picture their meals and post them on social media platforms such as Instagram take longer to feel full; they are more inclined to seek a second serving as a result. Previous research has discovered certain advantages. According to one study, uploading food photographs on social media helped meals taste better because snapping pictures causes the brain to focus more on the smell and taste of the food.

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The researchers gathered 145 students and divided them into two groups for the current study, which was published in the journal Appetite. As per the study, both were handed plates of cheese crackers to snack on, but half were ordered to stop and snap a picture beforehand. Volunteers were asked to assess how much they enjoyed them and desired more immediately after eating them. 

According to the data, those who took photos of the crackers rated better in terms of satisfaction and requesting seconds. Researchers discovered that snapping pictures alters how the brain interprets food and boosts the desire for additional calories.

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According to the study, culinary memories and registering consumption might influence how much we eat. It went on to say that the results show that taking pictures of food makes you want it more after you eat it. The benefits were particularly evident in individuals who were given lower quantities – six crackers instead of twelve.
"Those attempting to consume smaller amounts, particularly of appealing items that they wish to reduce their intake of," the researchers said, "should avoid snapping photographs of what they are eating."

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