Eating in front of the TV makes people fatter.
Scientists say that the act of eating meals while glued to the screen makes someone more likely to put on the pounds than dining at the table, even if they are otherwise healthy.
Experts say that the distraction of a TV show means that the brain is less likely to register the fat content of certain foods or drinks.
Almost half of people in Britain eat meals while watching TV or scrolling on their phone and it is thought to be a major factor behind the obesity crisis in the UK.
The team at Mersin University in Turkey said: "Modern, fast-paced life often includes multitasking during meals, many of which were consumed in front of a television, a computer screen or with a mobile device in hand.
"But this distraction may contribute to the development of obesity."