A new study conducted by scientists from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King's College London has found that excessive smartphone use can negatively impact teenagers' self-esteem. In particular, a link was established between frequent use of mobile devices and emotional overeating, according to media reports.
The study, the results of which were published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, covers 35 different studies involving 52,584 participants with an average age of around 17 years. Researchers noted that teenagers who spend a lot of time on smartphones are more likely to exhibit symptoms of eating disorders, such as uncontrolled and emotional overeating, as well as signs of food addiction even among those who did not have diagnoses of eating disorders.
According to the researchers, the problem lies not in the smartphones themselves, but in the communication environment, especially on social media. During adolescence, when self-esteem is being formed, constant access to idealized images can lead to negative comparisons with others, which in turn reduces body satisfaction and affects eating habits.
Scientists emphasized that even among teenagers without diagnoses of eating disorders, signs of body dissatisfaction and increased anxiety about appearance have been observed.
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