The Effect of Social Media on Eating Behaviours

Food Photography Clinical Trial

Official title:

The Effect of Social Media on Eating Behaviours

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT03346798
• Other study ID #: YNC-CPST-03
• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• First received: November 15, 2017
• Last updated: November 15, 2017
• Start date: August 28, 2017
• Est. completion date: April 6, 2018

Study information

• Verified date: November 2017
• Source: Yale-NUS College
• Contact: Jean Liu, PhD
• Phone: +65 6601 3694
• Email: jeanliu[@]yale-nus.edu.sg
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

This project aims to explore how social media use, in particular food photography, influences eating behaviours. It will be approached through three methods - a correlational experience sampling method, an experimental experience sampling method, and an experimental laboratory method. This registration describes the experimental laboratory method.

Description:

This project aims to explore how social media use, in particular food photography, influences eating behaviours.

The research question will be approached using a combination of methods. The first is the experience sampling method, where data is gathered from participants as they are going about their day-to-day lives. This method comprises two sub-sections - a correlational study, and an experimental study. The second approach is the experimental laboratory method, where participants will be randomly assigned to different conditions while given the opportunity to eat. This registration describes the experimental laboratory method.

Upon arrival at the lab, participants will first be required to fill in some online questionnaires (e.g. demographic information, mood rating scales). They will then be randomised to one of two conditions - to engage in food photography, or to engage in non-food photography - while eating some food and completing some rating scales. These photos will be taken with the intention of sharing on social media. Participants will then fill in some more online questionnaires, before leaving the lab. After the session, the amount of food consumed by the participants will be weighed.

As a control, all participants will be required to come back to the lab for a second visit one week later, where they will all complete the same eating and rating task, but without any phone use.

The expected outcome of the project is to collectively evaluate the data from the various methods to conclude how social media use, and in particular the act of food photography, influences the various aspects of eating behaviours.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Recruiting
• Enrollment: 40
• Est. completion date: April 6, 2018
• Est. primary completion date: April 6, 2018
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 25 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Instagram user

Exclusion Criteria:

• Symptoms / history of any medical or psychiatric conditions

• Allergies to food products

• History of eating disorders

• BMI: <18/ >28

• Excessive exercise (= 5 times a week of self-reported exercise)

• Currently on a special diet or deliberating restricting caloric intake

• Currently on a weight loss program

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Food Photography
• No Phone Use
• Non-Food Photography

Intervention

Behavioral:
• Food Photography
Participants will engage in food photography on their smart phones while eating
• Non-Food Photography
Participants will engage in non-food photography on their smart phones while eating
• No Phone Use
Participants will not use their smart phones while eating

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Singapore	Yale-NUS College	Singapore

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Yale-NUS College

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Singapore, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Amount of food consumed	Weight of food after completing the lab session	12 minutes
Secondary	Enjoyment of food consumed	Self-reported rating between 1-10	12 minutes