The Effect of Social Media on Eating Behaviours

Yale-NUS College

Status: Unknown

Conditions: Non-Food Photography; Food Photography; No Phone Use

Treatments: Behavioral: No Phone Use; Behavioral: Non-Food Photography; Behavioral: Food Photography

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03346798

YNC-CPST-03

Details and patient eligibility

About

This project aims to explore how social media use, in particular food photography, influences eating behaviours. It will be approached through three methods - a correlational experience sampling method, an experimental experience sampling method, and an experimental laboratory method. This registration describes the experimental laboratory method.

Full description

This project aims to explore how social media use, in particular food photography, influences eating behaviours.

The research question will be approached using a combination of methods. The first is the experience sampling method, where data is gathered from participants as they are going about their day-to-day lives. This method comprises two sub-sections - a correlational study, and an experimental study. The second approach is the experimental laboratory method, where participants will be randomly assigned to different conditions while given the opportunity to eat. This registration describes the experimental laboratory method.

Upon arrival at the lab, participants will first be required to fill in some online questionnaires (e.g. demographic information, mood rating scales). They will then be randomised to one of two conditions - to engage in food photography, or to engage in non-food photography - while eating some food and completing some rating scales. These photos will be taken with the intention of sharing on social media. Participants will then fill in some more online questionnaires, before leaving the lab. After the session, the amount of food consumed by the participants will be weighed.

As a control, all participants will be required to come back to the lab for a second visit one week later, where they will all complete the same eating and rating task, but without any phone use.

The expected outcome of the project is to collectively evaluate the data from the various methods to conclude how social media use, and in particular the act of food photography, influences the various aspects of eating behaviours.

Enrollment: 40 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 25 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Instagram user

Exclusion criteria

• Symptoms / history of any medical or psychiatric conditions
• Allergies to food products
• History of eating disorders
• BMI: <18/ >28
• Excessive exercise (≥ 5 times a week of self-reported exercise)
• Currently on a special diet or deliberating restricting caloric intake
• Currently on a weight loss program

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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40 participants in 2 patient groups

Food Photography

Experimental group

Description:

On the first visit, participants will engage in food photography on their smart phones while eating. On the second visit, participants will not use their smart phones while eating.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Food Photography

Behavioral: No Phone Use

Non-Food Photography

Experimental group

Description:

On the first visit, participants will engage in non-food photography on their smart phones while eating. On the second visit, participants will not use their smart phones while eating.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Non-Food Photography

Behavioral: No Phone Use