Eating together while being apart: A pilot study on the effects of mixed-reality conversations and virtual environments on older eaters’ solitary meal experience and food intake

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of mixed-reality systems to virtually manipulate the eating experience and facilitate increased food intake among older participants. Social isolation is often associated with undernourishment among older adults receiving care services. Mixed-reality systems that blend real elements and a virtual world can conveniently allow older adults to eat a meal in their home while experiencing having a conversation with friends through virtual avatars in a virtual environment. A within-subjects study on thirty older participants investigated whether the mixed-reality illusion of eating in a living room with and without familiar others contributed positively to the meal experience and increased energy intake. The results did not display any significant changes in energy intake but highlighted that the virtual living room had a more energetic and pleasant atmosphere and that meals eaten in the virtual room were perceived to be of a higher quality compared to meals eaten in the real lab environment. Eating while engaging in avatar-based social interactions with three remotely located friends resulted in lower sensations of being alone and positive mood changes. A discussion of the reasons for the absence of increases in energy intake is included.