Social Media, Binge Eating Often Go Together for Kids

WEDNESDAY, March 3, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Could endless hours spent scrolling through social media and watching TV trigger binge eating in preteens?

Apparently so, new research suggests.

"Children may be more prone to overeating while distracted in front of screens. They may also be exposed to more food advertisements on television," said study author Dr. Jason Nagata. He is an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco.

"Binge-watching television may lead to binge-eating behaviors because of overconsumption and a loss of control," he said in a university news release.

For the study, the researchers analyzed data gathered from more than 11,000 U.S. children, aged 9 to 10, that included how much time they spent on six different types of media, including television, social media and texting.

There was also information from parents about their children's binge-eating behaviors.

Each additional hour that children spent on social media was associated with a 62% higher risk of binge-eating disorder one year later, and each extra hour spent watching or streaming television or movies was linked with a 39% higher risk of binge-eating disorder one year later. But the study could not prove that social media use actually caused binge eating.

The percentage of children with binge-eating disorder rose from 0.7% at the start of the study to 1.1% one year later, a rate that's expected to increase in the late teens and early adulthood, the study authors noted.

People with binge-eating disorder eat large quantities of food in a short period of time. They feel a loss of control during the binge, and shame or guilt afterwards.

Binge-eating disorder is the most common eating disorder in the United States and can be severe or life-threatening if it causes diabetes or heart disease.

According to senior study author Kyle Ganson, "This study emphasizes the need for more research on how screen time impacts the well-being of young people now and in the future." Ganson is an assistant professor at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Social Work.

"Exposure to social media and unattainable body ideals may lead to a negative body image and subsequent binge eating," he noted.

The study was published March 1 in the International Journal of Eating Disorders.

Nagata suggested that although "screen time can have important benefits such as education and socialization during the pandemic, parents should try to mitigate risks from excessive screen time such as binge eating. Parents should regularly talk to their children about screen-time usage and develop a family media use plan."

More information

The U.S. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases has more on binge-eating disorder.

SOURCE: University of California, San Francisco, news release, March 1, 2021