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Abstract

Background
Eating while distracted [e.g., television (TV) watching, phone use] is believed to increase food intake. A previous small meta-analysis of experimental studies (published in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition) supported this. Many studies have since been published, but there has been no updated analysis.

Objectives
This study aimed to conduct an updated systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the effect of distraction on concurrent and later energy intake.

Methods
Eligible articles (searching up to December 2024) were identified from: a previously conducted meta-analysis which included studies up until 2012; database searches from 2012 to 2024 (PsycINFO, Medline, and PubMed); and both forward and backward citation searching. We followed PRISMA guidelines and conducted generic variance inverse meta-analyses with intake as the outcome variable for both concurrent and later energy intake.

Results
A total of 50 eligible studies were included (40 measuring concurrent intake, 10 measuring later intake). Random effects meta-analyses revealed that the overall effect of distraction on concurrent energy intake was nonsignificant [standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.123, 95% confidence interval (CI): <–0.01, 0.25; P = 0.051]. Moderator analyses revealed that type of distractor moderated the effect of distraction on eating, with passive distractor tasks (e.g., TV watching) resulting in greater energy intake when distracted [SMD = 0.272 (95% CI: 0.128, 0.417)], whereas physically demanding distractors [SMD = –0.139 (95% CI: –0.334, 0.057)] and cognitively demanding distractors [SMD = 0.202 (95% CI: –0.028, 0.432)] did not. The effect of distraction on later energy intake was statistically significant, such that eating while distracted led to greater intake at a subsequent eating episode [SMD = 0.419 (95% CI: 0.195, 0.642)].

Conclusions
Distracted eating increases later energy intake; however, the effect of distracted eating on concurrent energy intake is less consistent, and only relatively passive distractors may increase energy intake. Collectively, these findings suggest that distraction is a potential contributor to overeating.

This systematic review and meta-analysis was registered at PROSPERO as CRD42024518245.

Publication Type:	Article
Additional Information:	© The Authors, 2026. Published by Elsevier. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons: Attribution International Public License 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Publisher Keywords:	distraction, food intake, appetite, attention, obesity
Subjects:	R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine R Medicine > RC Internal medicine
Departments:	School of Health & Medical Sciences School of Health & Medical Sciences > Department of Psychology & Neuroscience
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Administrator

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