Smartphone Presence During Meals Hijacks Visual Focus, KU Leuven Researchers Confirm

The mere presence of a smartphone close to a person while they are eating demonstrably pulls visual focus toward the device, even when the primary task is consuming food. This finding comes from a recent study conducted by researchers at KU Leuven, the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium. The work sheds crucial light on how ubiquitous digital devices subtly commandeer our cognitive resources during routine daily activities. This observation aligns perfectly with fundamental principles in psychology regarding the distribution and capture of human attention in everyday settings.

The experimental phase of the research involved 24 right-handed adult participants. These subjects consumed a meal while their mobile phones were positioned either to the left or the right of their food trays, or entirely absent. Utilizing eye-tracking glasses, the investigators documented a consistent pattern: participants invariably directed their gaze toward the location of the smartphone. This phenomenon has been termed the “lateralized shift of attention,” indicating a unilateral pull on visual focus. Importantly, this shift occurred regardless of whether the device was placed on the left or the right side, strongly suggesting that the mere physical proximity of the device is enough to modulate where we look. The results, which received approval from the KU Leuven Ethics Committee for Social and Societal Issues (SMEC) under approval number G-2024-7628-R2(MIN), underscore the pervasive influence modern technology exerts on basic human attentional mechanisms in real-world scenarios.

Grasping these automatic captures of attention is vital for designing environments and cultivating habits that encourage focused engagement, whether practicing mindful eating or tackling complex professional duties. Further investigations into eating behaviors indicate that distractions from gadgets during meals correlate with increased calorie intake, potentially contributing to weight gain and obesity. For instance, experts note that when individuals watch videos or use their phones while eating, food is processed more mechanically, and taste receptors function less effectively, thereby hindering the feeling of satiety. A separate study conducted in the United Kingdom revealed that individuals watching television during lunch consumed 19% more cookies compared to those who ate without any such distraction.

Perceptions regarding the acceptability of using smartphones at the table vary widely across social contexts. A survey conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan, involving 1,163 individuals aged between 8 and 88, indicated that sending text messages or taking brief calls are viewed as more permissible than extended use of social media, primarily because they are perceived as shorter interruptions. Interestingly, even when a smartphone is necessary for urgent matters, lending it a perceived utility in the owner’s eyes, observers tend to find its presence at the table more tolerable. Conversely, a Japanese brand, Tanuki, conducted an experiment with 1,076 guests and found that a significant 88.4% admitted that their phones stole attention away from their companions, while 66.8% reported that their food tasted better after placing their smartphones in a safe for an hour to an hour and a half.

Understanding this effect—where the mere physical presence of a device, even if powered off, impacts peripheral vision and cognitive load—carries broad implications. To foster healthier digital environments, it may become necessary to integrate features directly into devices that alert users when their usage is inappropriate, perhaps during mealtimes, as suggested by some University of Michigan scientists. Committing to mindful eating practices that actively exclude such distractions not only aids in weight management but also contributes to overall well-being.