Researchers studied how watching popular YouTube videos where influencers show “what they eat in a day” affects what people choose to snack on. They had 289 people watch different versions of these videos—some with ads and some without—then offered them an apple or cookie. The study found that videos with ads made people trust the influencer more but think they were less authentic. Surprisingly, people who watched videos with ads were more likely to pick the cookie instead of the apple. This research shows that what we see online about food can actually change our eating choices, even when we don’t realize it’s happening.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Do YouTube videos where influencers show their daily meals affect what snacks people choose to eat, especially when the videos include ads or talk about health benefits?
  • Who participated: 289 people (the study doesn’t specify exact age ranges, but the research focuses on young audiences who watch these videos) who watched YouTube videos about what influencers eat
  • Key finding: When videos included sponsored ads or products, people were more likely to choose a cookie over an apple as a snack afterward. Videos with ads made influencers seem more trustworthy but less real or authentic.
  • What it means for you: The videos you watch about food and fitness might be quietly influencing your snack choices without you realizing it. Being aware of this effect can help you make more intentional food decisions. However, this is one study, so more research is needed before making major changes to how you consume this content.

The Research Details

Researchers created an experiment where they showed different groups of people different versions of “What I Eat in a Day” YouTube videos. Some videos included sponsored products or services (like ads for meal plans or supplements), while others didn’t. Some videos mentioned physical health benefits of the diet, while others didn’t mention benefits at all. This created four different combinations to test. After watching the videos, participants were offered a choice between an apple or a cookie, and researchers tracked which snack people picked. They also asked questions about how much they trusted the influencer, how real they seemed, and whether people felt a personal connection to them.

This type of study is called an experiment because researchers controlled what people saw and then measured the results. By changing specific things (like whether ads were present) and keeping everything else the same, researchers could figure out what actually caused people to make different choices.

The study measured behavior in a real way—by actually offering people snacks—rather than just asking them what they think they would do. This is important because people don’t always do what they say they’ll do.

Understanding how social media influences our eating choices matters because young people spend a lot of time watching these videos, and food choices made during teenage years can affect lifelong eating habits. This research specifically looks at long YouTube videos rather than short clips from TikTok or Instagram, which is important because people might be influenced differently by longer content. The study also measures actual behavior (choosing a snack) rather than just opinions, which gives us a clearer picture of real-world effects.

This study has several strengths: it used an experimental design that allows researchers to identify cause-and-effect relationships, it measured actual behavior rather than just asking people questions, and it tested multiple factors at once. However, the study only measured immediate snack choice in a lab setting, not long-term eating habits. The sample size of 289 is reasonable but not huge. The study doesn’t specify the exact age of participants, though it focuses on young audiences. We don’t know if these results would be the same for different age groups or in real-life situations outside a lab.

What the Results Show

The main finding was that sponsored content (videos with ads or product placements) changed people’s snack choices. After watching videos with ads, people were more likely to pick a cookie instead of an apple. This suggests that advertising in these videos can influence eating behavior, even though people might not notice the ads affecting them.

Interestingly, videos with ads made influencers seem more trustworthy and attractive to viewers. However, these same ads made the influencers seem less authentic or real. This is a tricky situation: ads might make influencers seem more professional and credible, but they also make people feel like the influencer is being fake or just trying to sell them something.

The study also found that people who said they wanted to change their diet were more likely to pick the apple instead of the cookie. This suggests that people’s intentions about eating healthier do matter and can influence their actual choices.

Surprisingly, videos that specifically mentioned physical health benefits (like “this diet will give you more energy” or “this will help you lose weight”) did not change whether people picked the apple or cookie. This was unexpected because researchers thought health claims would influence snack choice.

The research found that sponsored content affected how people felt about the influencer in different ways. Ads increased “parasocial interaction,” which is a fancy term for the feeling of having a personal relationship with someone you watch online. However, the study showed that ads actually decreased this feeling—people felt less like they had a personal connection to influencers when ads were present. This makes sense because ads remind us that the influencer is a business trying to make money, not just a friend sharing their life.

Previous research has mostly looked at short videos on TikTok and Instagram, where people watch clips that are only 15-60 seconds long. This study is important because it looks at longer YouTube videos, which people watch for several minutes. The findings support what other researchers have found: that what we see on social media influences our behavior. However, this study adds new information by showing that sponsorship specifically affects both how we see influencers and what we choose to eat. The results also confirm that media can influence behavior through something called “priming”—where seeing something makes us more likely to think about it or choose it.

This study has several important limitations to consider. First, it only measured what people chose in a lab setting right after watching a video, not what they actually eat over days or weeks. Choosing a cookie in a lab is different from real eating habits. Second, the study doesn’t tell us the age of participants, so we don’t know if these results apply to teenagers, young adults, or older people. Third, the study only tested YouTube videos, so we don’t know if the same effects happen with TikTok, Instagram, or other platforms. Fourth, people in studies sometimes behave differently because they know they’re being studied. Finally, this study only tested one choice (apple or cookie), so we don’t know if the effects would be the same with other types of food decisions.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, here are some practical suggestions: (1) Be aware that sponsored content in “What I Eat in a Day” videos might influence your food choices without you realizing it—this awareness alone can help you make more intentional decisions. (2) When watching these videos, ask yourself: Is this influencer being paid to promote something? If yes, remember that their recommendations might be influenced by money, not just what they actually believe. (3) Don’t assume that influencers’ eating habits are right for you—what works for one person might not work for another. (4) If you’re trying to eat healthier, focus on your own goals rather than copying what influencers do. These recommendations have moderate confidence because this is one study, and more research is needed to confirm these findings.

This research is most relevant for young people (teenagers and young adults) who regularly watch “What I Eat in a Day” videos on YouTube or other platforms. Parents and educators should also care about this research because it shows how social media can influence young people’s eating habits. Content creators and influencers should care because it shows the responsibility they have when promoting products. Social media platforms should care because it suggests they need better rules about sponsored content. However, if you rarely watch these videos or you’re very aware of advertising and how it works, this research might matter less to you personally.

If you start being more aware of sponsored content and how it influences your choices, you might notice changes in your snacking habits within days or weeks. However, this study only looked at immediate choices, so we don’t know how long these effects last or whether they affect long-term eating patterns. Real changes to overall diet and health usually take weeks to months to become noticeable.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track your snacking choices for one week, noting whether you chose healthier options (like fruit) or less healthy options (like cookies or chips). Also note what you watched on social media before snacking. This can help you see if there’s a pattern between the content you consume and the snacks you choose.
  • When you feel like snacking after watching a “What I Eat in a Day” video, pause for 30 seconds and ask yourself: “Am I actually hungry, or am I influenced by what I just watched?” Use the app to set a reminder to do this check-in. You can also use the app to log whether the video you watched had ads or sponsorships, helping you become more aware of commercial content.
  • Over the next month, use the app to track: (1) How many “What I Eat in a Day” videos you watch per week, (2) Whether those videos had sponsorships or ads, (3) What snacks you choose after watching, and (4) Your overall snacking patterns. This long-term tracking can help you see if reducing your consumption of sponsored content or becoming more aware of it actually changes your eating habits.

This research shows a connection between watching sponsored “What I Eat in a Day” videos and snack choices in a lab setting, but it does not prove that these videos cause long-term eating problems or disordered eating. This is one study with 289 participants, and more research is needed to confirm these findings in real-world situations and with different age groups. If you or someone you know is struggling with eating habits, disordered eating, or body image concerns related to social media, please talk to a doctor, counselor, or contact the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) at 1-800-931-2237. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical or mental health advice.