TY - JOUR
T1 - The association of social media with dietary behaviors among adults in the United Arab Emirates
AU - Cheikh Ismail, Leila
AU - Osaili, Tareq M.
AU - Naja, Farah
AU - Wartanian, Mary
AU - Elkabat, Gadeer
AU - Arnous, Mariam
AU - Alkoukou, Hala
AU - Mohamad, Maysm N.
AU - Saleh, Sheima T.
AU - Al Daour, Rameez
AU - Masuadi, Emad
AU - Ali, Habiba I.
AU - Stojanovska, Lily
AU - Al Dhaheri, Ayesha S.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Authors
PY - 2024/8/15
Y1 - 2024/8/15
N2 - Background: Social media is an online community that offers a digital setting where people create, share, and access a wide range of information, knowledge, and viewpoints. This study assessed the association between social media use and eating behaviors and whether sociodemographic characteristics and lifestyle habits are correlated with this association. In addition, it assessed whether this effect is different according to changes in lifestyle habits due to the COVID-19 pandemic among adults in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methodology: A cross-sectional web-based study was conducted among 1056 adults living in the UAE. Information on sociodemographic characteristics, social media use, and dietary habits were collected. The Scale of Effects of Social Media on Eating Behavior (SESMEB) was used and a total score ranging from 18 to 90 was generated with higher scores corresponding to a greater effect. The general linear model analysis assessed associations of certain characteristics with the score. Independent T-test and one-way ANOVA test were used to investigate differences based on changes in lifestyle habits due to COVID-19. Results: Most participants (80.3 %) reported using social media >2 h/day. The mean score was 44.15 ± 12.68 (range 18–90). Increasing age, being a male, spending less time on social media, and not following influencers were associated with lower SESMEB scores. Not consuming breakfast and spending more time on screens for leisure were associated with higher scores (p < 0.05). Significantly higher scores were recorded for those previously infected with COVID-19 and who reported an increase in screen time, food intake, body weight, and meals/day (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Social media appears to have an association with adults’ dietary habits in the UAE. Spending more time on social media, being a female, and having more screen time were associated with a higher impact. Targeted programs are needed to increase awareness and advocate for a positive lifestyle with social media use.
AB - Background: Social media is an online community that offers a digital setting where people create, share, and access a wide range of information, knowledge, and viewpoints. This study assessed the association between social media use and eating behaviors and whether sociodemographic characteristics and lifestyle habits are correlated with this association. In addition, it assessed whether this effect is different according to changes in lifestyle habits due to the COVID-19 pandemic among adults in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methodology: A cross-sectional web-based study was conducted among 1056 adults living in the UAE. Information on sociodemographic characteristics, social media use, and dietary habits were collected. The Scale of Effects of Social Media on Eating Behavior (SESMEB) was used and a total score ranging from 18 to 90 was generated with higher scores corresponding to a greater effect. The general linear model analysis assessed associations of certain characteristics with the score. Independent T-test and one-way ANOVA test were used to investigate differences based on changes in lifestyle habits due to COVID-19. Results: Most participants (80.3 %) reported using social media >2 h/day. The mean score was 44.15 ± 12.68 (range 18–90). Increasing age, being a male, spending less time on social media, and not following influencers were associated with lower SESMEB scores. Not consuming breakfast and spending more time on screens for leisure were associated with higher scores (p < 0.05). Significantly higher scores were recorded for those previously infected with COVID-19 and who reported an increase in screen time, food intake, body weight, and meals/day (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Social media appears to have an association with adults’ dietary habits in the UAE. Spending more time on social media, being a female, and having more screen time were associated with a higher impact. Targeted programs are needed to increase awareness and advocate for a positive lifestyle with social media use.
KW - Diet
KW - Eating habits
KW - Lifestyle
KW - Social media
KW - Social media platforms
KW - Social networking sites
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85200143101&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e35574
DO - 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e35574
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85200143101
SN - 2405-8440
VL - 10
JO - Heliyon
JF - Heliyon
IS - 15
M1 - e35574
ER -