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New research suggests scrolling through food content may satisfy cravings more than expected

• Researchers found that people dieting spent more time viewing indulgent food content online than non-dieters.

• In one experiment, dieters who watched dessert videos later ate less chocolate when given the chance.

• Scientists say the effect may be linked to cross-modal satiation, where visual exposure helps reduce the urge to eat.

Scrolling through videos of gooey brownies, cheesy pizza, and oversized burgers is often blamed for making unhealthy cravings worse. But a new study from researchers at the University of Bristol suggests the opposite may sometimes be true especially for people actively trying to diet.

The study found that dieters may use digital food content almost like a substitute for actually eating the food itself. Instead of triggering overeating, viewing indulgent foods online appeared to help some participants manage cravings and exercise more restraint later on.

It may sound counterintuitive, but our findings show that people, particularly those trying to control their diet, can use visual food content as a self-regulation tool, researcher Dr. Esther Kang said in a news release. Engaging with food imagery may help satisfy cravings without actual consumption.

In todays digital environment, where food content is highly accessible, this type of visual engagement may offer a simple and non-invasive way to support dietary goals.

The study

The research, published in the journal Computers in Human Behavior, involved three separate experiments with a total of 840 participants between the ages of 19 and 77. The work was conducted by researchers from the University of Bristol and the University at Buffalo School of Management.

In one experiment, participants watched short social media-style videos featuring both high-calorie and low-calorie chocolate desserts. Afterward, participants were presented with a bowl of real chocolates.

Another experiment compared reactions to unhealthy foods like pizza, burgers, and fries against healthier foods such as salads, yogurt, and smoothies.

The results

Researchers found that people who identified as dieters spent about 30% more time viewing the indulgent desserts compared to non-dieters. Then, despite showing greater interest in the dessert videos, the dieting group ended up eating less chocolate than the non-dieters.

In the second trial, dieters gravitated more toward the unhealthy food imagery, spending roughly 50% longer engaging with it than non-dieters.

We refer to this process as cross-modal satiation, researcher Dr. Arun Lakshmanan said in the news release. People can partially satisfy their desire to eat by consuming food visually rather than physically. This helps explain why engaging with food content on social media does not always translate into increased consumption.

An appetite management strategy?

The authors emphasized that the findings do not mean food videos can replace eating altogether or serve as a guaranteed weight-loss tool. Instead, they suggest that digital food content may affect people differently than previously assumed and could potentially become part of future appetite-management strategies.

Researchers also noted that food-related media is now deeply embedded in daily life through social media platforms, making these kinds of visual experiences more accessible than ever. According to the study, that accessibility could offer some people a simple and free way to help manage cravings without actual food consumption.

Weight loss is a huge business, Dr. Kang said. Our study results suggest there may be a vast array of free online material which could assist people who are trying to resist their unhealthy cravings and steer clear of such treats.

While were of course not claiming imagery could wholly replace the desire to eat chocolate or other indulgent foods, they could perhaps help people who are watching their calorie intake to reduce or avoid overindulgence."

Even short bursts of vigorous movement could help lower the risk of major diseases and early death

• A new study found that people who included more vigorous activity in their routines had lower risks of several major diseases.

• Researchers tracked more than 96,000 adults using wrist accelerometers to measure both activity volume and intensity.

• Even just a few minutes of activity that leaves you slightly out of breath was linked to meaningful health benefits.

When it comes to exercise, most people focus on one thing: how long theyre active. But new research suggests another factor may be just as important how hard youre working while you move.

A study published in the European Society of Cardiologys journal, the European Heart Journal, found that people who regularly included vigorous activity in their daily lives had lower risks of developing several major diseases and a lower overall risk of death.

Researchers say vigorous activity doesnt necessarily mean training for a marathon or spending hours at the gym. In the study, it referred to movement intense enough to leave someone slightly out of breath. That could include things like climbing stairs quickly, brisk walking, or running to catch a bus.

The findings also suggest that intensity may matter differently depending on the condition. For inflammatory diseases like arthritis and psoriasis, the intensity of exercise appeared especially important. For conditions such as diabetes and liver disease, both the amount of movement and the intensity seemed to play a role.

Vigorous physical activity appears to trigger specific responses in the body that lower-intensity activity cannot fully replicate, researcher Minxue Shen said in a news release. During vigorous physical activity the kind that makes you feel out of breath your body responds in powerful ways. Your heart pumps more efficiently, your blood vessels become more flexible, and your body improves its ability to use oxygen.

Vigorous activity also appears to reduce inflammation. This may help explain why we saw strong associations with inflammatory conditions such as psoriasis and arthritis. It may also stimulate chemicals in the brain that help keep brain cells healthy, which could help explain the lower risk of dementia.

How the study worked

The research team analyzed data from 96,408 adults participating in the U.K. Biobank study. Rather than asking participants to estimate how much they exercised, researchers used wrist-worn accelerometers to objectively track movement over a seven-day period.

That approach allowed scientists to capture not only formal workouts, but also short bursts of movement throughout the day that people might otherwise forget or overlook. Researchers then calculated two things: each persons total amount of physical activity and the percentage of that activity considered vigorous.

Participants were followed for roughly seven years. During that time, researchers monitored whether they developed any of eight major health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, irregular heartbeat, type 2 diabetes, inflammatory diseases, liver disease, chronic respiratory disease, chronic kidney disease, and dementia. They also tracked deaths from any cause.

The goal was to better understand whether exercise intensity offered benefits beyond simply being active overall. Researchers specifically wanted to know whether two people with similar activity levels might experience different health outcomes depending on how vigorously they exercised.

What researchers found

People who spent a greater share of their activity time doing vigorous movement consistently had lower risks across all eight diseases studied.

Compared with participants who did no vigorous activity, those with the highest proportion of intense movement had a 63% lower risk of dementia, a 60% lower risk of type 2 diabetes, and a 46% lower risk of death from any cause.

Importantly, the benefits showed up even when the total amount of vigorous activity was relatively small. Researchers noted that as little as 15 to 20 minutes of vigorous movement spread throughout a week was associated with measurable health benefits.

Our findings suggest that making some of your physical activity vigorous can provide substantial health benefits, Professor Shen said. This doesn't require going to the gym. Adding short bursts of activity that make you slightly breathless into daily life, like taking the stairs quickly, walking fast between errands or playing actively with children, can make a real difference.

The authors say vigorous exercise may trigger biological responses that lighter activity does not fully produce, including improved cardiovascular function, better oxygen use, and lower inflammation levels.

At the same time, researchers cautioned that vigorous activity may not be appropriate for everyone, particularly older adults or people with certain medical conditions. They emphasized that any increase in movement can still be beneficial and that exercise should be tailored to the individual.