Cloud-Based Commensality: Enjoy the Company of Co-diners Without Social Facilitation of Eating

The robotic companion's choice encourages sustainable food choices: The moderating role of anthropomorphism

Previous research has shown the impact of the food choices of others on individuals' own food choices. We conducted two studies to investigate how a robot's choice might influence people's choices between meat-heavy and vegetable-forward meals in imaginary scenarios. In Study 1, the participants were instructed to choose three dishes from a set of two meat and two vegetable dishes, after their companion (either a human or a robot) had chosen a meat-heavy meal or a vegetable-forward meal. The results revealed that the participants chose meat-heavy meals less frequently when the companion chose a vegetable-forward meal compared to a meat-heavy meal, regardless of whether the companion was a human or a robot. In Study 2, we investigated whether anthropomorphism moderated the effect of the robotic companion's choices on the participants' food choices. The results revealed that the food choices made by a highly human-like robot could exert a greater influence on the participants' food choices than those of a moderately anthropomorphic robot. Collectively, these findings provide empirical evidence that a robotic companion's choice can influence consumers' food choices in imaginary scenarios, which has implications for promoting sustainable food choices using human-robot interactions.

Use of Mukbang in Health Promotion: Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

Mukbang is a recent internet phenomenon in which anchors publicly record and show their eating through short video platforms. Researchers reported a tangible impact of mukbang on the psychological and physical health, appetite, and eating behavior of the public, it is critical to obtain clear and comprehensive insights concerning the use of mukbang to promote the viewers' appetite, eating behaviors, and health to identify directions for future work.

OBJECTIVE

This scoping review aims to comprehensively outline the current evidence regarding the impact of mukbang consumption on dietary behaviors, appetite regulation, flavor perception, and physical and psychological well-being. Specifically, we conducted an analysis of public perceptions and attitudes toward mukbang while summarizing the reciprocal influence it has on health promotion.

METHODS

This study was conducted as a scoping review following the Joanna Briggs Institute guideline and the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) checklist. We comprehensively searched 8 electronic databases in Chinese, English, and Korean languages. We also searched gray literature sources like Google Scholar and ProQuest. We used a data extraction chart to extract information relevant to the impact of mukbang on health. The extracted data were qualitatively analyzed to form different themes related to health, categorizing and integrating the results based on the type of study (qualitative, observational, and experimental).

RESULTS

This scoping review finally included 53 studies; the annual distribution exhibited a consistent upward trend across all categories since their initial publication in 2017. Based on the results of the analysis, we have summarized 4 themes, which showed that mukbang may have positive effects on viewers' appetite, food choices, and weight control; it can also meet the psychological needs of viewers and provide digital companionship and happiness. However, excessive viewing may also be harmful to viewer's health, which has also caused health concerns for some viewers.

CONCLUSIONS

This study conducted a comprehensive search, screening, and synthesis of existing studies focusing on mukbang and health across various languages and varying levels of quality, which has presented the analytical evidence of the relationship between mukbang and dietary behaviors, appetite, flavor perception, and health. According to the results, future research could consider analyzing the beneficial and harmful factors of mukbang, thereby further optimizing the existing mukbang videos accordingly to explore the potential of using mukbang for health intervention or promotion, so as to improve or customize the content of mukbang based on this scoping review, maximize the appetite and health promotion effects of mukbang videos.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

INPLASY INPLASY2022120109; https://inplasy.com/inplasy-2022-12-0109/.

Influence of a robotic companion on women's food choices: Evidence from an imaginary task

Previous research has demonstrated the influence of commensal dining between humans on food choices, whereas we conducted two studies to examine how the presence of a robot might influence people's choices between meat-heavy and vegetable-forward meals in imaginary scenarios. In Study 1, participants were instructed to choose three desirable dishes from a set of two meat and two vegetable dishes while they imagined eating alone, with a human, or with a robot. Although the meat dishes were rated as more palatable and pleasant, the female participants chose fewer meat-heavy meals when eating alone or with a robot than when eating with a human, whereas no such effect was observed for the male participants. We also replicated these patterns in Study 2, as the female participants chose fewer meat-heavy meals when eating with a robot and a human than when eating with two humans. Collectively, these findings provide empirical evidence regarding how the presence of a certain robot can influence female consumers' food choices in imaginary scenarios, which has direct implications for the practice of promoting sustainable food choices.

Why am I obsessed with viewing mukbang ASMR? The roles of mediated voyeurism and intertemporal choice

This study investigates the determinants of the obsessive view of mukbang autonomous sensory meridian response (Mukbang ASMR) and examines the moderation role of intertemporal choice and the mediating effect of mediated voyeurism among university students in Malaysia. A quantitative survey was conducted with 408 university students in Malaysia who viewed mukbang channel(s) often on social media. PLS-SEM is adopted to examine the associated paths and effects. The results demonstrate the significant impact of alienation and novelty, vicarious satisfaction, companionship and loneliness on mukbang ASMR obsession. Mediated voyeurism intervenes the effects of alienation and novelty on mukbang ASMR and intertemporal choice positively moderates the relationship between companionship and loneliness and mukbang ASMR. This study constructs a model to estimate Mukbang ASMR obsession by identifying specific motives and relationships among key factors, highlighting loneliness as the most effective determinant of mukbang ASMR among Malaysian younger generation. Research results provide an extended understanding of the mukbang ASMR, offering valuable insights in the areas of lifestyle, social well-being, and social media consumption.

Association between watching eating broadcasts like mukbang and cookbang and generalized anxiety disorder among Korean adolescents

BACKGROUND

Anxiety disorders are common during adolescence; therefore, detecting anxiety disorders among adolescents and providing appropriate treatment are crucial. Studies have suggested that watching online audiovisual broadcasts like mukbang and cookbang (hereafter mukbang), where hosts eat or cook food, may influence anxiety disorders. However, there is insufficient research on the association between watching mukbang and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Therefore, we investigated the association between watching mukbang and GAD among Korean adolescents.

METHODS

We analyzed 51,764 adolescents who participated in the 2020 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey (KYRBS). The participants were asked how frequently they watched mukbang per week over the past 12 months. Anxiety disorders were assessed using the generalized anxiety disorder-7 (GAD-7) questionnaire. A multiple logistic regression analysis was performed after adjusting for confounding variables.

RESULTS

The prevalence of GAD was higher among adolescents who watched mukbang compared to those who did not (aOR: 1.100, 95% CI: 1.026-1.180, P = 0.008 in male participants; aOR: 1.090, 95% CI: 1.003-1.185, P = 0.042 in female participants). The frequency of watching mukbang showed a dose-dependent relationship with a greater likelihood of GAD in female adolescents.

CONCLUSION

This study's results showed that watching mukbang is associated with GAD in Korean adolescents. Proper interventions for mental health are needed for adolescents who watch mukbang.

Alone but together: Cloud-based commensality benefits physical and mental health

Cloud-based commensality refers to an eating scenario in which people are eating and videoconferencing with remote co-diners. We report two experiments designed to investigate whether cloud-based commensality can exert a positive effect on individuals' physical and mental health. In Experiment 1, the participants were asked to rate their expectations concerning their feelings when eating in the context of cloud-based commensality or solitary eating and to make food choices in each eating scenario. In Experiment 2, romantic couples were recruited to have meals in different eating scenarios in the laboratory and were asked to rate their emotions and close relationships. The results of the two experiments revealed that when engaging in cloud-based commensality, participants reduced their intake of meat dishes but did not increase their choices of meat dishes compared to solitary eating. Moreover, the results suggest that cloud-based commensality can alleviate negative feelings and promote positive emotions during periods of quarantine or non-quarantine and enhance close relationships for romantic couples. These findings demonstrate that cloud-based commensality is beneficial for individuals' physical and mental health and provide practical implications for utilizing social eating to promote healthy eating.

Effects of eating together online on autonomic nervous system functions: a randomized, open-label, controlled preliminary study among healthy volunteers

BACKGROUND

Eating alone has been significantly associated with psychological distress. However, there is no research that evaluates the effects or relation of eating together online to autonomic nervous system functions.

METHODS

This is a randomized, open-label, controlled, pilot study conducted among healthy volunteers. Participants were randomized into either an eating together online group or an eating-alone group. The effect of eating together on autonomic nervous functions was evaluated and compared with that of the control (eating alone). The primary endpoint was the change in the standard deviation of the normal-to-normal interval (SDNN) scores among heart rate variabilities (HRV) before and after eating. Physiological synchrony was investigated based on changes in the SDNN scores.

RESULTS

A total of 31 women and 25 men (mean age, 36.6 [SD = 9.9] years) were included in the study. In the comparison between the aforementioned groups, two-way analysis of variance revealed interactions between time and group on SDNN scores. SDNN scores in the eating together online group increased in the first and second halves of eating time (F[1,216], P < 0.001 and F[1,216], P = 0.022). Moreover, high correlations were observed in the changes in each pair before and during the first half of eating time as well as before and during the second half of eating time (r = 0.642, P = 0.013 and r = 0.579, P = 0.030). These were statistically significantly higher than those in the eating-alone group (P = 0.005 and P = 0.040).

CONCLUSIONS

The experience of eating together online increased HRV during eating. Variations in pairs were correlated and may have induced physiological synchrony.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry, UMIN000045161. Registered September 1, 2021. https://center6.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/icdr/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000051592 .

Digital Forms of Commensality in the 21st Century: A Scoping Review

The social act of eating together has been influenced and mediated by technologies in recent decades. This phenomenon has been investigated in different academic fields, but the topic is still in an incipient dimension, and there is a lack of consensus regarding terminology and definitions. The study aimed to characterize the main scientific findings regarding digital forms of commensality in the 21st century and to identify possible relationships between these practices and public health. A scoping review was conducted to identify papers published in different languages between 2001 and 2021. A total of 104 publications that combined commensality and technology in all contexts were included. Most studies were qualitative; from the Design and Technology field; used social media and video platforms or prototypes/augmented reality gadgets; and used different terms to refer to digital forms of commensality, allowing the analysis of the construction of field definitions over time. The intersections with health were observed from impacts on family/community engagement, culinary skills development, and mental health and eating habits. These practices also structured specific social interactions, such as virtual food communities and commensality, during the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper indicates the consistent growth of these practices and recommends the development of future research for theoretically and longitudinally deeper evaluations of the impacts of these new ways of eating together, especially regarding their effects on human health.

Influence of eating together on brain activation and hedonic evaluation in response to foods

Previous research has documented the influence of eating together on people's food expectations and choices. We conducted an fMRI study to investigate the influence of the label "eating together" on behavioral and brain responses to healthy or unhealthy foods. The participants (N = 28, 13 females; mean age = 21.19) viewed food photos presented with a label of "eating together" or "eating alone" and estimated the palatability, pleasantness, and desirability of each food. The label "eating together" elicited more positive ratings for both healthy and unhealthy foods than the label "eating alone," and this effect of social context was larger for unhealthy than healthy foods. The label "eating together" also elicited greater activation in the left insula and the right posterior insula for unhealthy foods (p = 0.001 and p = 0.004, whole-brain corrected, respectively). These findings suggest that a label of "eating together" can enhance the reward values of foods, with a potentially greater enhancement for unhealthy foods.