Smartphones can prevent the Decrease
As the Smartphone to obesity can lead to
Everyone knows that only too well, in every free Minute is used to the mobile phone, or tablet. It is current news to be read, through Social media platforms, surfing or just chatting. A research team at the Texas, Rice University in Texas has shown in their recent study, that’s a pointless switch between digital devices with an increased susceptibility to temptations with food is accompanied by resources and a lack of self-control, which can lead to weight gain.
„The increased exposure to phones, Tablets and other portable devices in the last decades, one of the most important changes in our environment. This happened in a time in which obesity rates in many places, also stiegen“, Richard Lopez, principal author of the study says. „Therefore, we wanted to conduct this research to determine whether there are Connections between obesity and abuse of digital devices gibt“.
Implementation of the study
The study was divided into two parts. In the first part of 132 participants filled out between the ages of 18 and 23 years of age a questionnaire, in which the multi-tasking and distractibility of the media was evaluated.
This was carried out with a newly developed 18-channel Media multi-tasking-Revised scale (MMT-R). The MMT-R scale measures proactive behavior compulsive or inappropriate Smartphone usage – for example, if you feel the urge to check your phone for messages while you are talking with someone, as well as more passive behavior, such as media distractions.
The researchers found that higher MMT-R-values with a higher Body Mass Index (BMI) and a higher percentage are associated to body fat, which suggests a possible close connection.
In the second part of the study, 72 were participants from the first part of a fMRI Scan of the subject, when the scientists measured the brain activity while the subjects were shown a series of images. Mixed with a variety of photos that were not related to each other, were images of an appetite, but fat to be food.
Results of the study
As the Participants images of food saw, researchers observed increased activity in the brain area that deals with the temptation of food. The same subjects also had a higher BMI and more body fat, spent more time in the cafeterias of the Campus.
Overall, Lopez said, these results, although preliminary, suggest, however, that there is indeed a connection between media Multitasking, obesity risk, and brain-based measures to self-control and the exposure to real food. These results the researchers published in a recent press release from Rice University.
„In the face of rising obesity and the proliferation of Multimedia in many Parts of the modern world, it is important that such Compounds herzustellen“, the study Director on the results of said.
Lopez and his research team hope that the study will raise the awareness and future Work to promote this issue. The results of the study were published in the forthcoming print of the English specialist magazine Brain Imaging and Behavior issues. (fm)