Smartphones are now a constant presence in the lives of many teenagers. New research suggests that heavy phone use may also be linked to how young people think about food, eating and their bodies.
In a systematic review published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, scientists from King’s College London found that problematic smartphone use was consistently associated with symptoms linked to disordered eating and body dissatisfaction among adolescents and young adults.
The analysis reviewed 35 studies from around the world involving more than 52,000 participants with an average age of 17.
Across the studies, higher smartphone use was associated with a greater likelihood of behaviors such as emotional overeating, uncontrolled eating and symptoms often described as “food addiction,” even among young people who had not been diagnosed with an eating disorder.
The relationship was particularly pronounced among adolescents who reported using their smartphones for more than seven hours a day.
“Smartphones have become ubiquitous in our everyday lives,” said Professor Ben Carter, senior author of the study from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King’s College London. “It is apparent from our study that, even for people without a diagnosis of an eating disorder, the overuse of a smartphone is associated with poor body satisfaction and altered eating behaviours, and is a potential source of distress.”
Researchers say one possible explanation involves the constant exposure to curated and idealized images on social media platforms.
Adolescence is a period when people are especially sensitive to social comparison and identity development, which may make them particularly vulnerable to body image pressures online.
“Adolescence is a key stage of development as individuals evolve their sense of self by observing others,” said Dr. Johanna Keeler, the study’s lead author. “While smartphones might present an easy way for this to happen, being consistently exposed to idealised images can lead them to compare their own appearance with these ‘standards’, leading to poor self-esteem and appearance dissatisfaction.”
Body dissatisfaction has long been recognized as a risk factor for disordered eating behaviors.
Researchers say smartphones themselves are not necessarily the cause of eating problems, but heavy usage may increase exposure to content and social pressures that shape how young people think about food, weight and appearance.
The findings also highlight the growing importance of understanding how digital environments influence eating behavior.
While previous research has examined the effects of social media and general internet use, the authors say this review is among the first to specifically examine “problematic smartphone use,” a pattern in which people become psychologically or behaviorally reliant on their devices.
Because the research analyzed existing studies, it cannot determine whether smartphone use directly causes eating problems. It does, however, suggest that excessive phone use may be an important signal for identifying young people who could be at greater risk.
The authors say their findings underscore the need for early intervention strategies that consider digital habits alongside traditional mental health and nutrition support.
As smartphones continue to shape daily life, researchers say understanding how screen time interacts with eating behaviors and body image may be an important step in supporting healthier relationships with food among young people.
The study authors reported no financial conflicts of interest related to the research.