How video games can help control the amount of food you eat

Many of us have faced the situation when we can’t stop eating and eat more than planned. But is there a solution to this problem? The answer may be unexpected: strict diets and exciting video games can help us control our appetite. Studies show that enjoyable activities can distract us from the desire to eat more and, as a result, reduce the total amount of food we consume.

Play and food

As part of the experiment, scientists invited participants to abstain from food for 10 hours before testing. This provided an accurate sense of hunger, which allowed them to assess their food intake during the experiment. The participants were asked to eat miniature cakes, which they could choose as they wished. However, they were divided into two groups: one group was allowed to enjoy their meal in silence, while the other group was asked to play a video game while eating.

As the food was consumed, portions were weighed and counted, allowing the researchers to get an accurate reading of how much was eaten. One interesting point was that after finishing their meal, the participants filled out a questionnaire in which they recalled how many pastries they were given and how many they actually ate. They also rated how much they enjoyed the dessert and how satiated they felt after eating it.

The study results were surprising: those participants who were engrossed in video games ate significantly less on average than those who were only focused on food. One hypothesis is that gaming takes attention away from the eating process, allowing the person to focus less on the amount of food and more on enjoying the gameplay.

In preparation for this article, our authors decided to conduct such an experiment. Several people played games of different genres, including iGaming. Gambling games were chosen because many casinos now give players various bonuses. The most diverse promotions are held by Megapari casino. To get a bonus, it is enough to find here the actual promo code. It will need to be specified in a particular field when registering at Megapari, which will allow you to get welcome bonuses.

With movies, this situation was not repeated. Our authors decided to go further and conducted another experiment. They watched several of the best films about gambling and at the same time ate. It turned out that watching movies only increases appetite.

In addition, paying attention to the games helps reduce stress and emotional tension levels, affecting food intake. When a person is relaxed and engrossed in an exciting activity, they can intuitively avoid overeating by eating smaller portions.

Another 2019 study from Brigham Young University found that people who played video games while eating consumed 40% less food than those who ate in silence. This further supports the hypothesis that games can reduce stress levels and distract attention away from the eating process.

The findings offer new perspectives in understanding our eating behavior and show that video games can be a valuable tool for controlling weight and eating habits. However, it is essential to use the method wisely to avoid distractions from eating and to remember to take a balanced approach to menu planning.