New research from King’s College London has found a strong link between heavy smartphone use and symptoms associated with eating disorders and body dissatisfaction in young people, raising concerns about the impact of digital habits on health and wellbeing.  Key points include:

• The study found that problematic smartphone use (PSU)—where individuals become psychologically or behaviourally reliant on their phones—is consistently associated with greater eating disorder symptoms, even among those without a clinical diagnosis.
• Higher screen time was linked to emotional overeating, uncontrolled eating and symptoms of food addiction, as well as lower body satisfaction.
• The association was particularly strong among young people using their phones for more than seven hours a day.
• The findings are based on a systematic review of 35 studies involving over 52,000 participants, with an average age of 17.
• Researchers highlighted adolescence as a critical period, where constant exposure to idealised images online may drive comparison, low self-esteem and body dissatisfaction.

The study does not prove that smartphone use directly causes eating disorders, but researchers say it highlights the need for early intervention and greater awareness of how digital environments may influence young people’s relationship with food and body image.