STUDY. Teens eat more ultra-processed foods while using electronic devices

Obesity together with lack of physical activity constitutes a major public health problem, especially among adolescents, with serious implications for the risk of developing potentially severe non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and certain types of cancer.

Eating ultra-processed foods while using electronic devices has become a common practice, being associated with a number of health risks. A study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics analyzed adolescents’ perceptions, attitudes and motivations regarding the consumption of processed foods while using electronic devices, as well as their knowledge of fast food, along with their adolescent nutritional educational needs.

There is evidence that advertisements appearing while using electronic devices have the potential to influence dietary decisionsleading to increased consumption of ultra-processed foods, high in calories, saturated fat and sugars.

The researchers concluded that the main influences in the consumption of ultra-processed food by teenagers while using electronic devices are represented by loneliness, social events, as well as the attitude of parents regarding food. Key factors reported by the teenagers included in the study were the availability, taste of fast food, but also exposure to advertisements.

In this study, 30 teenagers aged between 12 and 16 were included, who were divided into four groups according to their grades in secondary education. They completed a questionnaire that touched on three topics of discussion: experiences and motivations for consuming ultra-processed foods while using electronic devices, knowledge of healthy and unhealthy diets, and their educational needs regarding changing eating behaviors when spending time in front of a screen .

Most participants reported daily use of smartphones, electronic tablets or televisions during main meals when they were alone, especially at breakfast and snacks. The consumption of ultra-processed foods was more frequent during snacks and on special occasions. They reported eating more ultra-processed foods at events because of their availability, convenience, and taste.

Eating food in front of a screen and being exposed to unhealthy food advertisements led to compulsively purchasing it. However, participants had little knowledge about the health effects of ultra-processed foods, but expressed an interest in learning about healthy eating habits.

People who completed the questionnaire reported that the social environment influences the type of food consumed while using electronic devices, mentioning the consumption of ultra-processed food at home without parental supervision. Instead, when other family members were present, the teenagers had a healthier, more nutrient-dense diet. Socialization is also another influencing factor in the consumption of ultra-processed foods, because teenagers perceive time spent with friends as a special event. Some of them were influenced by the availability of processed food, advertisements and its social acceptance.

Most participants admitted to choosing ultra-processed foods while using electronic devices and because of the feeling of hunger and positive memories of eating these foods during social gatherings.

Despite the satisfaction felt during the consumption of ultra-processed food, adolescents they frequently reported feelings of psychological discomfort and guilt related to compulsive eating and difficulty controlling certain automatic eating behaviors. Compensatory habits reported by some people consisted of regular physical activity or restricting the consumption of ultra-processed food to a certain frequency. In contrast, several adolescents reported feelings of intense anger, disappointment, or frustration when processed foods were within reach.

The study highlights the complex and interconnected influences of social, behavioral and environmental factors on adolescent eating habits while using electronic devices. These findings have important implications for the development of public health policies aimed at promoting healthy food choices among adolescents by educating them about the risk of excessive ultra-processed food consumption.

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