Problematic smartphone use was associated with more eating-disorder symptoms
A systematic review found broadly consistent associations with eating symptoms and body dissatisfaction. Most evidence was cross-sectional and low certainty, leaving cause and direction unresolved.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Across mostly cross-sectional studies, more problematic smartphone use and greater daily screen time were associated with more eating-disorder symptoms. The conclusions mainly concern people without a formal eating-disorder diagnosis. They cannot show whether phone use precedes those symptoms, follows them, or changes alongside other influences, and they do not test whether reducing use helps.
Few studies included clinical populations. This abstract-based review therefore cannot support conclusions about treating diagnosed eating disorders, and it provides no pooled estimate of the strength of the associations.
Several related outcomes were involved
Associations extended to body dissatisfaction, food addiction, uncontrolled eating and emotional overeating. Some studies identified emotional regulation difficulties, anxiety and depressive symptoms as possible links, but these statistical relationships do not establish a causal chain.
Consistency does not settle timing
The review graded most outcomes as low certainty because almost all evidence came from cross-sectional snapshots. Associations were broadly consistent across countries and ages, but that consistency does not resolve which changes came first.
The original publication
Associations of Problematic Smartphone Use and Smartphone Screen Time With Eating Disorder Psychopathology in Non-Clinical Samples: A Systematic Review.
Keeler J, Conde Ludtke L, Yang Q et al.
JMIR Ment Health · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41813322
- Record checked
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