The study found that children ages 9 to 11 in the United States who have more screen time are more likely to develop an excessive eating disorder (BED) a year later, and social media is the main culprit.
One year later, every hour spent on social media was associated with a 62% higher risk of suffering from binge eating disorders, while every hour spent watching television or movies was associated with a 39% higher risk. , according to the study.
Compulsive eating disorder is characterized by short, recurrent episodes of high food intake – or binging – often accompanied by a feeling of loss of control. People with BED often feel anguish or guilt after the attack, the researchers said.
But some common screen-related hobbies may give way to earlier diagnoses.
“Watching TV with binges can lead to overeating consumption behaviors and a loss of control,” Nagata said in the press release.
This excess consumption, associated with social media (which can cause a negative body image in children, according to the statement), can create the conditions for eating without problems.
While previous research had examined the associations between screen capture time and nonsensical eating or eating, Dr. Natalie D. Muth, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Obesity, told CNN that the new study specifically deals with overeating.
Still, he said, it is important to recognize that this study points to an association, not a causality.
“It’s not clear that screen time actually causes binging,” he said. “There may be something else (maybe depression or boredom) that leads to both behaviors.”
The pandemic requires more screen time
“The Covid-19 pandemic has caused children to spend so much time on screens for both school and entertainment, giving a huge gap to extracurriculars,” Muth said.
He said the American Academy of Pediatrics has seen an increase in obesity and eating disorders since the emergence of Covid-19, which has raised concern among experts about the post-pandemic consequences.
“Once this pandemic is over, we will address for a time the mental health consequences for children and adolescents,” he said. “Part of this will be related to addictive behaviors and eating problems during screen capture time, including binging.”
But parents can be proactive
The pandemic has encouraged prolonged screen-based behaviors and often needed it through online schooling. But parents can pursue strategies to minimize risks.
Muth recommends scheduling meal and snack schedules as much as possible, with limited distractions. He said parents should not allow or strongly discourage food while on a screen or device.
Muth said sleep is also important, as increased eating behaviors tend to occur later in the night. It does not recommend any screen time when going to bed. Parents can ban devices in children’s rooms for that purpose, he said.
It is important for parents to model healthy relationships with food and also practice these tips.
But if parents notice behaviors in their children, Muth said, they can talk to them openly to better understand what is going on and seek help if they are concerned that their child’s eating habits have gotten out of hand.
Although the study was conducted before the outbreak of Covid-19, its findings are timely and highlight the need for more research on the correlations between screen time and adolescent well-being, according to the statement.