The Effect of Social Media Use on Eating Behaviours

Yale-NUS College

Status: Unknown

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

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

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03346785

YNC-CPST-02

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 experience sampling 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. This registration describes the experimental experience sampling method.

The study will experimentally control participants' engagement in the act of food photography, and measure their eating behaviours. Participants will be recruited via online platforms and participate in the study for one week. At the beginning of the week, they will be required to fill in some online questionnaires (e.g. demographic information). For the rest of the week, they will be prompted at specific time points in the day via smartphone to engage in food photography/ non-food photography/ no phone use, and then answer some questions about their eating behaviours.

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: 60 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 49 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

• Symptoms / history of any medical or psychiatric conditions
• Allergies to food products
• History of eating disorders
• 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)

---

60 participants in 3 patient groups

Food Photography

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will engage in food photography on their smart phones while eating

Treatment:

Behavioral: Food Photography

Non-Food Photography

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will engage in non-food photography on their smart phones while eating

Treatment:

Behavioral: Non-Food Photography

No Phone Use

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will not use their smart phones while eating

Treatment:

Behavioral: No Phone Use