While Gen-Z has suffered from the likes of social network addiction and self-isolation, in a rather shocking revelation, adults have also become addicted to surfing smartphones, tablets, and other screens to consume their attention and as a means of distraction. This is evident even in something as fundamental as the consumption of meals. The social construction of reality theory looks into the socially constructed and built nature of various aspects of life, including social interaction and obesity.
Such behavior to which people refer to as the ‘iPad kid’ contributes to the deteriorating health and wellbeing of people in general, and kids in particular.
Regardless of whether these persons are scrolling through social media apps, watching comfort shows or playing video games, there is one thing that unites them: disconnection. People have been cautioned that eating while watching a screen for example a movie or a computer game leads to unhealthy eating habits, obesity, and social exclusion.
This desperate feeling of not being able to escape work makes people seek ways to distract their minds after work hours; as a result, those people have dinner in front of the TV, or on their smartphones, for example, Samantha Luna, a 32-year-old American marketing executive shared her manners of spending evenings:
‘I need to turn off my brain after the working day; it is not very healthy, but often I eat dinner watching my favorite shows.”
Despite the fact that she exercises and eats healthy , she believes that it is her chance to relax after a working day.
While living alone may foster the practice, some people develop isolation even while having people around. A 25-year-old British man Liam Harper who shares an apartment but, he often eats alone playing video games. Liam admits that the described habits have deprived him, as well as others, of the ability to be mindful and have a conscience when eating. I did not understand I had lost track of what or how much I was eating.
Accountant Aisha H a 24-year-old Emirati admits that she often eats alone at her workplace with her laptop on and different social media applications opened.
“This is due to the fact that I have to be entertained always and consumption of food while browsing my phone is more enjoyable.”
For Aisha, although she lives with her family and in a situation where she can share a meal with them, she prefers to eat alone or to use her phone during her eating times necessitating some form of intercession by her family members.
Social interaction
A Specialist Psychiatrist at Medcare Hospital Sharjah and Medcare Royal Speciality Hospital Al Qusais, Dubai, Dr Waleed Al Omar, sheds light on the phenomenon.
“Hence, when a person exhibits this behaviour, the effect is rather negative for the health of the individual and their social interactions.”
He again points out that you eat alone and the screen is where your attention is ‘reduces social interaction and direct communication which is so vital for our spirits and souls’.
In response to this challenge, Dr. Al Omar states that what is required is the adoption of multimodal strategies.
“Such practices as mindful eating and mindful watching which are used when helping the people can lead to the return of the subject’s presence,” He said.
Moreover, prescheduling and setting certain rules controlling the TV time, and also involving in such activities which can bring pleasure and free time without constant TV watching, can be rather helpful.
Maha Ajjaoui, a Certified Functional Medicine Health Coach, says that eating while watching something or being busy with the phone, TV or iPad influences both the mental and physical states.
Ajjaoui observed that, eating with depending on the screen can make the person more alone. This also leads to the increase in the rate of obesity as a result of set and neglected mealtime behavior via screens.
To assist with that, she recommends arranging a phone call with a friend or a family member on Zoom or a similar service while eating. This can help people bond and disciple or remind ourselves to eat not out of boredom or stress and anxiety.
Watch what you eat
According to the analysis of Melanie Dsouza, who works as a Specialist in Dietetics at Aster Hospital in Sharjah, this kind of habit is essential for gaining weight and obesity. They can affect metabolism, energy levels, and such assorted consequences as changes in stature and skin texture. Concerning the effects of its consumption on health, she said that the following are some of the effects of binge-watching TV accompanied by taking foods and snacks: indigestion, bloating, constipation, and other gastrointestinal complications; little physical activity especially in muscles; health issues related to mental complications and sleep disruptions.
To alleviate the negative physical influences of binging on TV while eating, Dsouza advises avoiding distractions, eating slowly, and choosing nutrient-dense foods like whole foods and healthier methods of cooking, with sufficient hydration and movement.
Dsouza provided some tactics for gradually transitioning away from binging on TV while eating, such as ‘healthy snack options, avoiding eating directly from packaging and setting limits, reducing sugary beverages and planning meals’.
