'Mirror, Mirror On The Wall': Scrutinizing Your Appearance Could Cause Weight-Gain

There's nothing wrong with taking pride in your appearance. Exercise, a healthy diet and plenty of rest can help you look and feel good. Yet did you know that examining our body's too closely could ultimately result in overeating?

Researchers from The Netherlands are studying a new phenomenon that appears to be more common in women. Findings revealed that those who spent more time staring at themselves in a mirror were also more likely to eat even when they were not hungry.

For the study, researchers divided 107 participants into two groups. Some were asked to look at a mirror while others were not.

"Individuals who focus on their appearance do not lower subsequent consumption when already satiated [or full]," the study said, via a news release.

The study results showed that those who spent more time staring at themselves in the mirror were also more likely to eat more M&Ms on average that those who did not look in the mirror, regardless of how hungry they were.

However, researchers also found that the amount of food participants consumed was not just affected by the focus on their own figures. Furthermore, it was also affected when participants saw certain ads instead of a mirror. Scientists saw that people who viewed ads with a focus on body image also ate more than those who looked at neutral ones.

How we feel about our body can ultimately influence how we feel about ourselves overall. Yet self-obsession and body dysmorphia may be higher for those chronically scrutinizing their appearance.

More information regarding the findings can be seen via the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.