The association of social media with dietary behaviors among adults in the United Arab Emirates.

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.