Smartphone Use Linked to Eating Disorder Risk in Young People

The increasing reliance on smartphones, particularly among young people, is now being linked to a higher risk of developing disordered eating behaviors. A new systematic review, published in JMIR Mental Health, suggests a connection between problematic smartphone use – defined as addictive patterns of use – and symptoms of eating disorders like food addiction, body dissatisfaction, and emotional overeating. The findings underscore a complex interplay between technology, mental health, and body image, prompting calls for greater awareness and support for vulnerable individuals.

Smartphone Addiction and Disordered Eating: A Growing Concern

Researchers led by Johanna Keeler, PhD, at King’s College London’s Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, analyzed data from 35 studies conducted between 2019 and 2025. The combined sample included over 52,000 participants with an average age of 17 years, spanning 13 countries across five continents. The review focused on identifying overlaps between problematic smartphone use, measured using tools like the Smartphones Addiction Scale (SAS), and eating disorder symptoms, often assessed with the Eating Aptitudes Test (EAT). Dr. Keeler emphasized the difficulty of breaking these cycles and the need for professional support for young people navigating both problematic smartphone use and potential eating disorders.

The study revealed consistent associations between increased screen time and higher levels of eating disorder psychopathology. Specifically, problematic smartphone use was linked to symptoms such as food addiction, body dissatisfaction, uncontrolled eating, and emotional overeating. These findings suggest that the way individuals interact with their smartphones may contribute to the development or exacerbation of disordered eating patterns.

Underlying Mechanisms: Emotional Regulation and Mental Health

The researchers also explored potential mechanisms driving this relationship. The review identified emotional regulation difficulties, as well as symptoms of anxiety and depression, as key factors mediating the link between problematic smartphone use and eating disorder symptoms. This suggests that individuals who struggle to manage their emotions may be more likely to turn to both smartphones and disordered eating behaviors as coping mechanisms. Previous research has also highlighted the potential for excessive screen time to negatively impact emotional well-being, particularly in adolescents.

It’s critical to note that the study’s findings are based on cross-sectional data, meaning that it cannot establish a cause-and-effect relationship. Whereas the study demonstrates an association between problematic smartphone use and eating disorder symptoms, it does not prove that one directly causes the other. Individuals with pre-existing vulnerabilities to eating disorders may be more prone to developing problematic smartphone habits, or that the relationship is bidirectional, with each factor influencing the other.

Cross-Cultural Applicability and Study Limitations

The geographical diversity of the included studies – encompassing countries from Turkey and China to the United States – suggests that these findings may have broad applicability. But, Dr. Keeler cautions that the representation of countries and continents is not comprehensive, and further research is needed to confirm these results across diverse populations.

Several limitations were identified by the researchers. The majority of studies relied on self-reported data, which can be subject to bias. Most studies were conducted in non-clinical populations, meaning that participants were not formally diagnosed with an eating disorder. This limits the generalizability of the findings to individuals seeking treatment for eating disorders. The GRADE assessments, used to evaluate the certainty of the findings, consistently ranked the associations as having low certainty, largely due to the cross-sectional study designs.

What Does This Mean for Public Health?

These findings highlight the need for a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between technology and mental health. Problematic smartphone use should be considered a potential risk factor for eating disorder psychopathology, particularly in young people who already exhibit other risk factors, such as dieting behavior, body dissatisfaction, or experiences of bullying. Successfully addressing eating disorders requires a multi-faceted approach, and recognizing the potential role of technology is a crucial step.

The researchers suggest that future studies should employ longitudinal designs to track changes in smartphone use and eating disorder symptoms over time. They also recommend including more participants with clinically diagnosed eating disorders to improve the generalizability of the findings. Exploring the relationship between specific patterns of smartphone usage – such as problematic social media use or reliance on calorie-tracking apps – and eating disorder symptoms could provide valuable insights for developing targeted interventions.

Dr. Keeler expressed interest in examining how different components of smartphones contribute to both problematic use and eating disorder symptoms, as well as identifying the underlying mechanisms driving this relationship. “Understanding individual patterns of usage…would help us to understand this relationship further and produce more specific evidence-based recommendations for health care professionals, carers and people with lived experience,” she stated.

Looking ahead, continued research and increased awareness are essential to address the growing concern of problematic smartphone use and its potential impact on eating disorder risk. Healthcare professionals, educators, and parents all have a role to play in promoting healthy technology habits and supporting the mental well-being of young people.