Nowadays it is common to look at TV, mobile, laptop or any other screen while eating. This has become a habit of some people. They cannot swallow food without watching their favorite TV show or movie on their mobile. But do you know how harmful looking at a mobile phone while eating can be to health?
Marketing research and consulting agency Cyber Media Research (CMR) conducted a study in the year 2022 on 1000 people from some major cities of the country. It found that 58% of people use smartphones while eating.
Another study by the same agency shows that the average child in the country starts using a smartphone at the age of 12. He uses it for about 6.5 hours a day. 91% of children are stressed when separated from their mobiles.
These statistics show that everyone from children to adults are in the grip of mobile phones. Getting out of this is not easy for anyone. But the habit of looking at the screen while eating can be harmful to your health. This needs to be seriously considered.
So today in health water We will talk about the health hazards of looking at mobile phones while eating. You will also know that-
- Why should not look at the mobile screen while eating?
- How to get rid of this habit?
Expert – Dr. Poonam Tiwari, Senior Dietician, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences (Lucknow)
Bad effect on health of looking at mobile phone while eating Looking at a mobile or any other screen while eating can be harmful to health in many ways. This habit can have a negative impact on our physical and mental health.
When we look at the mobile phone while eating, we do not understand our eating process properly. This can increase the chances of overeating, which can also lead to digestive problems. Apart from this, it also has some disadvantages, which you can see in the graphic below.
Let us now talk in detail about the problems caused by looking at mobile while eating.
Eating too much can lead to weight gain When we focus on mobile while eating, we are unable to see how much we are eating. This means that we gradually eat more food than we are hungry because we are not conscious of food. Prolonged overeating can lead to weight gain.
Digestive problems may occur When we focus on our mobile while eating we do not chew our food properly. It can cause stomach related problems like gas, indigestion or acidity.
Mental health may be affected Looking at a mobile phone while eating also has a negative impact on mental health. When we are busy with mobile while eating, our attention is diverted from food to other things. Like social media, email or chats. During this time, there are often negative news, personal comments or work-related messages, which can sometimes cause stress.
Eye problems may occur Spending too much time on mobile screens can lead to fatigue, dryness and eye irritation. If this habit continues while eating, the health of the eyes is adversely affected.
Digital addiction and waste of time Being busy on mobile can make eating food take longer than usual. Apart from this we cannot taste the food properly. Although it is good to eat after chewing the food for a long time, but looking at the mobile during this time increases the digital addiction, which is dangerous.
How to get rid of the habit of looking at mobile If you want to get rid of the habit of looking at mobile while eating, first you have to change your thinking and behavior. This habit cannot be broken in a day. For this it is necessary to practice every day.
First of all, keep your mobile out of reach while eating. You can keep it in another room, so as not to distract while eating. With this, your focus will be completely on the food and you will be able to enjoy it. Apart from this some other methods can also be adopted. See the graphic below.
Food is not just for filling the stomach Eating food is not just about filling the stomach. Food habits have a profound impact on health and lifestyle. Food not only satisfies hunger but also nourishes the body.
It gives energy to the body and it works well. By eating a healthy and balanced diet, we can avoid many diseases. If you eat only to fill your stomach, the body will be deficient in nutrients. This can lead to many health problems.
Keep these things in mind while eating Dietician Dr. Poonam Tiwari says that eating the right foods not only keeps digestion healthy, but also has a positive effect on overall health. For this it is very important to take care of some things. See the graphic below.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).