Social media users 'copy' friends' eating habits
perceptions about how others eat
Facebook users were found to consume an extra portion of unhealthy snack foods and sugary drinks for every three portions they believed their online social circles did
we eat around a third more junk food if we think our friends also indulge.
we may be influenced by our social peers more than we realise when choosing certain foods
if we believe our friends are eating plenty of fruit and veg we're more likely to eat fruit and veg ourselves
On the other hand, if we feel they're happy to consume lots of snacks and sugary drinks, it can give us a 'licence to overeat' foods that are bad for our health.
we can use social media as a tool to 'nudge' each other's eating behaviour within friendship groups, and potentially use this knowledge as a tool for public health interventions."