How your social media consumption can influence your eating habits, according to experts

Social media can be a place for people to connect and learn new things, but it also poses risks for developing eating disorders, Birely said.
Social media can be a place for people to connect and learn new things, but it also poses risks for developing eating disorders, Birely said.  Carol Yepes/Moment RF/Getty Images

Professional medical help and medication are often a vital part of the eating disorder recovery process. If you or a loved one are coping with an eating disorder, contact the National Alliance for Eating Disorders helpline for support at 866-662-1235.

CNN — If your teen is playing with a new phone or smart device after the holidays, you may have some concerns. But are you paying close enough attention to how more screen time might affect a child’s risk for an eating disorder?

Research has suggested a link between the use of screen time and social media and the risk of developing an eating disorder.

A September study showed that each additional hour of screen time and social media use was associated with higher odds of showing eating disorder symptoms. And adolescents who spend more time online are more likely to experience cyberbullying, another risk factor for an eating disorder, according to a 2023 study.

 

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