Tweet it Before You Eat It
By Katrina Wesley
Dec 10, 2013
By Katrina Wesley
Dec 10, 2013
Can Instagram change the way you eat? The newly popular and ever-expanding trend of “food
porn,” or sharing a picture of your favorite meal over social media, may have a greater impact
on the way you eat than you think.
porn,” or sharing a picture of your favorite meal over social media, may have a greater impact
on the way you eat than you think.
Most people use mobile based applications like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or all three
to share pictures of their food with their friends, family, and followers; but is it impacting
nutrition? According to a new study published by Brigham Young University in the Journal of
Consumer Psychology, technology is changing the way that we eat.
to share pictures of their food with their friends, family, and followers; but is it impacting
nutrition? According to a new study published by Brigham Young University in the Journal of
Consumer Psychology, technology is changing the way that we eat.
BYU research suggests that looking at photos of certain foods, as opposed to eating them, gives
one a feeling of satiation; in turn, making those foods less appealing when it comes time to eat.
Here’s how they conducted the test: BYU professors Jeff Larson and Ryan Elder recruited 232
subjects to rate 60 pictures of savory and sweet foods. Half of the participants looked at (and
rated) pictures of salty foods, including chips and fries, while the other half rated pictures
of cakes and candies. After viewing the photos for some time, all the participants were fed
peanuts.
one a feeling of satiation; in turn, making those foods less appealing when it comes time to eat.
Here’s how they conducted the test: BYU professors Jeff Larson and Ryan Elder recruited 232
subjects to rate 60 pictures of savory and sweet foods. Half of the participants looked at (and
rated) pictures of salty foods, including chips and fries, while the other half rated pictures
of cakes and candies. After viewing the photos for some time, all the participants were fed
peanuts.
The group who rated the salty foods weren’t all that excited by their peanut-centric meal. Even
though peanuts never appeared in their salty food feed, it appears as though just looking at
salty foods satiated the participants.
In conclusion, the results showed that the volunteers who were shown the pictures featuring
salty foods were far less likely to eat those foods than those who were not shown pictures.
though peanuts never appeared in their salty food feed, it appears as though just looking at
salty foods satiated the participants.
In conclusion, the results showed that the volunteers who were shown the pictures featuring
salty foods were far less likely to eat those foods than those who were not shown pictures.
“In a way, you’re becoming tired of that taste without even eating the food,” says Elder, “It’s
sensory boredom — you’ve kind of moved on. You don’t want that taste experience anymore.”
Unfortunately for dieters, you’d have to look at more than just a few quick snapshots of certain
sensory boredom — you’ve kind of moved on. You don’t want that taste experience anymore.”
Unfortunately for dieters, you’d have to look at more than just a few quick snapshots of certain
foods to be genuinely satiated from it.
“You do have to look at a decent number of pictures to get these effects,” Elder said. “It’s not
like if you look at something two or three times you’ll get that satiated effect.”
like if you look at something two or three times you’ll get that satiated effect.”
Nutritionist Joan Salge Blake suggests the reduction in hunger may have a correlation with the
excitement or anticipation of one’s meal.
excitement or anticipation of one’s meal.
“It seems like, from the study, really interesting that when people look at pictures, and they are
really looking at the food and almost mentally tasting the food, it can have the impact like they
have consumed it already, and it may decrease the excitement of it when they go to eat it,”
Blake said.
really looking at the food and almost mentally tasting the food, it can have the impact like they
have consumed it already, and it may decrease the excitement of it when they go to eat it,”
Blake said.
So now that we know the more we stare at food, the less we want it; is #foodporn the newest
obesity cure? Study co-author Jeff Larson believes so, he suggests that photo-sharing platforms
like Instagram and Pinterest could become effective dieting aids. However, the average user
isn’t convinced.
obesity cure? Study co-author Jeff Larson believes so, he suggests that photo-sharing platforms
like Instagram and Pinterest could become effective dieting aids. However, the average user
isn’t convinced.
“I don’t see how that would work, who has time to stare at 60+ photos of food?” asks Jennifer
Scott, a 25 year old San Diego resident and #foodporn enthusiast. “If anything, I think looking at
pictures of food makes me crave those foods even more.”
Scott, a 25 year old San Diego resident and #foodporn enthusiast. “If anything, I think looking at
pictures of food makes me crave those foods even more.”
Interestingly enough, the food service industry is using #foodporn to its advantage. “We don’t
usually advertise in fine dining, it may work great for Applebees but that’s not what we’re
about; but, with Instagram our customers can take pictures of their meals and advertise for us,”
says John Wesley, Chef de Partie at Michelin starred Commis in Oakland, Calif.
usually advertise in fine dining, it may work great for Applebees but that’s not what we’re
about; but, with Instagram our customers can take pictures of their meals and advertise for us,”
says John Wesley, Chef de Partie at Michelin starred Commis in Oakland, Calif.
That’s the beauty of a hashtag (#), Instagram users can search by a specific hashtag and often
find themselves exposed to hundreds, if not thousands, of pictures. “Sometimes
I’ll just search #sanjose and look for pictures of food. When I see a picture that I like, I click on
the photomap and find out where the photo was tagged…then I remember that spot for the
next time I need to grab a bite out,” says Kaylie Erickson, a market analyst based out of
Campbell, Calif.
find themselves exposed to hundreds, if not thousands, of pictures. “Sometimes
I’ll just search #sanjose and look for pictures of food. When I see a picture that I like, I click on
the photomap and find out where the photo was tagged…then I remember that spot for the
next time I need to grab a bite out,” says Kaylie Erickson, a market analyst based out of
Campbell, Calif.
Whether or not you believe photo-centric social media platforms are the diet of the future, it’s
hard to deny that technology is changing our relationship with food.
hard to deny that technology is changing our relationship with food.
