People of all ages will agree that the reels we watch on Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat are extremely addictive. While everyone has their own preference of what they like to watch, once you start scrolling, it is not easy to lose track of time.

Out of the various categories, food reels attract a significant number of users. Content creator Kevin Zingkhai, who has 605K followers on Instagram, explains india today There has been a surge in interest in creating food videos among influencers and creators.

He further added, “I am seeing a lot of creators now venturing into food content creation, even if it’s not entirely their genre. Everyone wants to create something creative with these videos.”

Zingkhai says the way to retain viewers is that viewers expect a reward at the end. Whether it’s things being crushed by a hydraulic press or someone jumping into the sea, they like to anticipate the outcome.

He said, “Food videos are so addictive because they show the step-by-step process of reaching the final product, which links back to our food cravings. It’s a gold mine!”

After all, who doesn’t love watching delicious dishes being made? And those satisfying mukbang and ASMR videos can be especially appealing. You might say to yourself, ‘I’m on a diet, but there’s no harm in watching someone else enjoy those dishes,’ right?

Well, it turns out that watching food reels can actually lead to weight gain; at least, that’s what’s being said on social media. Let’s hear from experts if there’s any truth to this claim.

The reels play with your mind

Shivangi Rajput, a Delhi-based counselling psychologist, says that watching food reels can affect your mind in many ways.

• Positively, these reels can boost your mood, provide relaxation, and inspire creativity in the kitchen, giving you a sense of accomplishment.
• However, they can also lead to intense cravings, which may lead to overeating or unhealthy eating patterns.
• Continued exposure to attractive food images activates the brain’s dopamine system, producing pleasurable feelings, but may also lead to feelings of inadequacy or guilt if the person compares themselves unfavorably to them or is unable to afford the foods depicted.

Rajput further explains, “These reels often activate the pleasure centres of the brain, similar to those of addictive substances. When a person watches a lot of food reels, they start craving those foods more often, which affects their behaviour and makes them more inclined to seek out and eat the foods they watch.”

She adds, “This may lead to changes in eating habits, such as eating more frequently or eating larger quantities, especially if the reels feature high-calorie or unhealthy foods.”

Psychologist Sumalatha Vasudeva of Bengaluru’s Gleneagles BGS Hospital also shares the same opinion. She says that watching a particular food advertisement or reel can definitely impact your food perception and food cravings.

When you see your favorite celebrity enjoying a particular junk food, your perception will be even stronger. In addition, social media can influence what food you choose because you will be exposed to that content multiple times.

If you observe, you will find that people usually order food that has a picture on the menu rather than the name, or they look around and look at the person sitting at the next table before ordering, and this affects self-control.

Vasudeva also pointed out that many people use their favourite food as a coping mechanism to deal with stress or boredom. But this is a short-term relief that often leads to negative emotions such as guilt or regret.

Reels and weight gain

Shivangi Rajput says, “Yes, watching food reels can make you gain weight.”

• Constantly being exposed to images of tempting foods can increase cravings and hunger, resulting in you consuming more calories than usual.
• Food reels often portray binge eating or overeating as normal or desirable, encouraging viewers to replicate these eating behaviors. This can reduce the feeling of fullness, increasing the likelihood of eating beyond your body’s actual hunger signals.
• Over time, these factors can collectively contribute to weight gain, especially if combined with a poor lifestyle or other unhealthy eating habits.

Adding to this, Sumalatha Vasudeva said that although reels are short videos, they are engaging and can hold your attention for a long time.

“Since you watch many different videos, your fingers keep scrolling, which increases screen time and reduces physical activity. This generally affects your attention span and leads to negative lifestyle habits. Inactivity can disrupt your normal hunger signals and lead to overeating,” she explains.

Experts believe that prolonged media use is generally associated with unhealthy eating habits, lack of sleep due to excessive TV viewing, and too little physical activity, which are the main causes of weight gain.

On the other hand, Kevin Zingkhai says that this matter is subjective. “If your entire Explore feed is filled with fitness videos, you will want to try something. Similarly, if your Explore feed is filled with food videos, you will naturally want to eat something.”

In the age of social media…

It’s challenging to avoid food videos altogether. However, there are strategies to manage their impact on your weight:

• Be careful about how often you watch these videos, and limit your viewing if they trigger your cravings.
• Follow accounts that promote balanced diets and healthy food choices.
• Focus on preparing and enjoying meals mindfully, paying attention to hunger cues and portion sizes rather than trying to mimic what is shown in the video.
• Participate in regular physical activity to balance out the extra calorie consumption.
• Practice self-compassion and avoid being too hard on yourself if cravings occur, and maintain a healthy relationship with food amid the influence of social media.

Now, before you go back to watching the reels

• It’s important to know the impact food reels can have on your cravings and eating habits.
• If you feel social media is having a negative impact on your eating habits or mental health, stay away from it. Do a digital fast at least once a week; it boosts confidence and helps you believe that you can do better without relying on social media.
• Avoid checking your phone frequently/excessively. Turn off notifications as they may tempt you to check it frequently.
• Try to spend time with your friends and family in person, and avoid communicating through social media applications.
• Use screen time limits and reminders to track and alert you to excessive screen use. Remember to stay away from screens an hour before bedtime.