- A new systematic review from King’s College London found that problematic smartphone use is linked with more eating disorder symptoms, body dissatisfaction and disordered eating behaviours in young people without a diagnosed eating disorder.
- The link was also seen with longer screen time, particularly above seven hours a day.
- It does not prove phones are the cause, but it adds to concerns about how heavy smartphone use may affect body image and eating patterns.
Researchers from King’s College London reviewed 35 studies involving 52,584 participants with an average age of 17.
They found a consistent association between problematic smartphone use and greater eating disorder symptom severity in non-clinical samples, meaning people without a formal eating disorder diagnosis.
Higher smartphone use was also linked to body dissatisfaction, food addiction symptoms, uncontrolled eating and emotional overeating.
The association appeared strongest in those using their phones for more than seven hours a day.
This matters because adolescence is a period when body image, identity and self-esteem are still taking shape.
Constant exposure to idealised images, comparison culture and appearance-focused content may make some young people more vulnerable to dissatisfaction with their own bodies.
That said, the study has limits.
Most of the evidence was cross-sectional, which means it shows an association rather than proof that phone use causes the problem. The authors rated much of the evidence as low certainty for that reason.
It also mainly applies to non-clinical groups.
The review does not tell us enough yet about young people who already have a diagnosed eating disorder.
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Still, the signal is hard to ignore.
If a young person is spending a large chunk of the day on their phone and showing signs of body dissatisfaction, emotional overeating or loss of control around food, that combination deserves attention.
This is not a case for panic, but it is a case for earlier intervention.
Limiting harmful exposure, improving digital habits and picking up early warning signs may matter just as much as talking about diet alone.
