New research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London has found that excessive smartphone use is closely associated with disordered eating, including uncontrolled eating and emotional overeating, as well greater symptoms of food addiction in young people with no diagnosis of an eating disorder.
The research, published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, established a significant and consistent association between Problematic Smartphone Use (PSU) - whereby an individual becomes behaviorally or psychologically reliant on their smartphone - and eating disorder symptom severity. Researchers argue this highlights the need for early intervention strategies specific to excessive phone use for young people displaying eating disorder symptoms.
While there has been research conducted into the negative impact that problematic internet usage, exposure to social media, and harmful online content can have on body image and body dysphoria in both clinical and non-clinical populations, none have specifically examined PSU.
Researchers identified 35 studies in which to include in this systematic review. The studies were from across the globe and provided researchers with a sample size of 52,584 participants with an average age of 17.
Their analysis of the data found that higher daily smartphone use was also related to greater food addiction symptoms, broader disordered eating behaviours like uncontrolled eating or emotional overeating, and body dissatisfaction in people with no diagnosis of an eating disorder. The association was particularly strong in those who use their phones for more than seven hours a day.
Ben Carter, Professor of Medical Statistics at King’s IoPPN and the study’s senior author said, “Smartphones have become ubiquitous in our everyday lives. 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”
Dr Johanna Keeler, a Visiting Lecturer at King’s IoPPN and the study’s first author said, “Adolescence is a key stage of development as individuals evolve their sense of self by observing others. 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 - both risk factors for the development of an eating disorder.”
Ends
For more information, please contact Patrick O’Brien (Media Manager) on +44 020 7848 5377.
Problematic smartphone use and smartphone screen time are associated with eating disorder psychopathology in non-clinical samples: a systematic review (DOI )(Keeler, Carter et al) was published in the Journal of Internet Medical Research.
“Problematic Smartphone Use” is not “smartphone addiction” and should not be used interchangeably. While smartphone users can demonstrate addictive behaviours, significantly more research is required before the “addiction” moniker can be applied.
About King’s College London and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience
King’s College London is amongst the top 35 universities in the world and 5th best in the UK (QS World University Rankings 2026), and one of England’s oldest and most prestigious universities. With an outstanding reputation for world-class teaching and cutting-edge research, King’s maintained its sixth position for ‘research power’ in the UK (2021 Research Excellence Framework).
King's has more than 42,000 students (including more than 12,800 postgraduates) from some 190 countries worldwide, and 8,500 staff.
For nearly 200 years, King’s students and staff have used their knowledge and insight to make a positive impact on people, society and the planet. Focused on delivering positive change at home in London, across the UK and around the world, King’s is building on its history of addressing the world’s most urgent challenges head on to accelerate progress, make discoveries and pioneer innovation. Visit the website to find out more about Vision 2029, which sets out bold ambitions for the future of King’s as we look towards our 200th anniversary. World-changing ideas. Life-changing impact: kcl.ac.uk/news
Journal of Medical Internet Research
Systematic review
People
Associations of Problematic Smartphone Use and Smartphone Screen Time With Eating Disorder Psychopathology in Non-Clinical Samples: A Systematic Review
10-Mar-2026
None declared.