New study: Distraction leads to excessive consumption

People are actually shaped by reason. But we often do things that we didn't actually want to do: the extra portion of cream on our coffee, the piece of chocolate that doesn't really fit in while watching TV in the evening, or surfing the Internet even though we've long wanted to go to bed.

Researchers at the University of Bochum (NRW) have now investigated why we tend to overconsume in an often unhealthy way. BILD tells us what the results were.

The result of the scientific work: People experience their consumption as less satisfying when they are distracted. For example, lunch is less enjoyed if you are watching a YouTube video at the same time. Or: The evening in front of the TV suffers if you are already thinking about the next day at work.

Among the test subjects in the studies at the University of Bochum These disappointments led them to engage in more unhealthy behavior. For example, they ate more after an unsatisfactory lunch unhealthy snacks or they watched television again the next day, even though they had intended to do the opposite.

The researchers’ statement

With this behavior, we try to regain pleasure that we thought we had lost. This often happens without considering long-term health goals or even ignoring satiety signals.

The researchers’ conclusion

Anyone who is aware of this compensation effect can curb their problematic behavior. This includes excessive media use, but also binge eating. The researchers recommend that you try to avoid or minimize distractions during enjoyable activities in order to stay focused. If that doesn't work, you can always work on your satisfaction later to avoid unhealthy overcompensation.