03:00 pm
Tuesday 17 May 2022
Books – Syed Metwally
Using your phone during meals can harm your health, as it causes the formation of visceral fat, which is called “hidden” fat because it wraps around the abdominal organs, where it cannot be seen or stimulated.
The main threat to health is inflammation, which is a common harbinger of metabolic disease, and according to researchers, common eating habits can increase the risk of fat being stored around the midsection.
There is a common belief that visceral fat increases with age, but this theory has been discredited. Fat that is stored within the abdominal cavity is usually caused by increased calorie consumption, along with a sedentary lifestyle.
However, some eating habits can lead to excessive calorie consumption, according to the researchers.
Obesity is a growing health challenge that is closely linked to other poor health outcomes, such as diabetes.
Sometimes hormonal balances can lead to the accumulation of excess fat, but lifestyle factors remain the main cause of the condition.
In 2019, scientists warned that smartphone use at mealtimes could lead to an expanding waistline.
The research team hypothesized that using the phone led to an increase in calories by preventing the brain from recording the amount of food eaten.
This behavior caused women and men to consume 15 percent more calories than recommended, the researchers said. Moreover, the team observed a greater tendency toward fatty foods among volunteers using their phones.
“It’s not just what you eat but how you eat it that matters,” says Dr. Elizabeth Phillips. “It’s important to eat your meals while sitting down and avoid using your phone.”
The study was conducted on a sample of 62 volunteers between the ages of 18 and 28, who were photographed eating alone, and the participants were asked to choose from a selection of foods – which included healthy and unhealthy products – until they were full.
The study was divided into 3 experiments, where volunteers were recorded eating without any distraction, reading a magazine, or using a smartphone. The results later revealed that without the distraction of their smart devices, the participants ate an average of 535 calories, compared to 591 when using their phone.
The health harms of phone use at work have been explored, with strong evidence pointing to excessive phone use as a driving cause of sedentary behaviour. However, there are many other causes of weight gain, some of which are less clear than others.
For example, harvesting healthy bacteria in the gut can prevent further complications related to being overweight.
In fact, research from King’s College London in 2019 found that the gut microbiota can affect a person’s visceral fat mass regardless of their dietary intake.
Dr. Phillips explained that sticking to certain rules while eating can also benefit gut health.
The expert explained: “Make sure you chew your food well, and take at least 15 minutes to eat a meal. Control your actions, such as stressful conversations, work or reading the news, especially while eating, and stress reduces the flow of digestive juices in the intestine and also reduces the flow of Blood in the intestines makes digestion difficult, leading to symptoms such as bloating and ingestion.”
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