Researchers Study Link Between Device Use and

Obesity
According to the World Health Organization, obesity around the world
has tripled since 1975. While this may be the result of changes in how
much we eat and how active we are, Richard Lopez of Rice University
wondered if this increase in weight was linked to the use of digital
devices.

Lopez was most interested in "media multitasking," where people

quickly look at different devices without thinking, such as looking at a
laptop and then checking a smartphone, or spending hours looking at
both Instagram and Twitter.

Lopez joined researchers from Dartmouth University and Ohio State

University to study 132 adults from 18 to 23 years old, who answered
questions such as how often they were distracted by notifications on
their phone.

Researchers also measured their body fat, and found that those who
said they were more often distracted by their phones had a higher risk
of obesity.

Seventy-two of the adults also had their brains scanned while being
shown images that included fatty foods. The study found that those
who media multitasked more often had different brain activity when
shown fatty foods. Lopez said that their brains showed more activity in
the parts that make them want to eat, and less activity in the parts that
help with self-control.

However, researchers do not know whether people who tend to media

multitask don't have self-control, and this affects their brains, or
whether people whose brains work in a certain way are more likely to
multitask with their devices.

Lopez now wants to do more studies to see whether obesity leads to

media multitasking, or if people who often look at different devices t end
to gain weight over time.
Discussion
1. What are your thoughts on the findings of Lopez' study?
2. Do you find it surprising that obesity around the world has
tripled since 1975? Why? Why not?
3. Would you say that people were generally more active 30
years ago than they are today? Please explain your answer.
4. Who would you say is the fittest person you know? Please
describe them.
5. In your opinion, is it more difficult to eat healthy or exercise
regularly? Why do you think so?

Further Discussion
1. Would you say you're good at multitasking? Why? Why not?
2. Do you often get distracted by notifications on your phone?
Please explain your answer.
3. How many times per day do you check your social media
accounts?
4. What device would you find most difficult to give up for a
week? Why?
5. What's the longest you've gone without using the internet?
Please explain your answer.