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New York, March 2 (IANS): Children who spend a lot of time on social media platforms or watching television between the ages of 9 and 10 are more likely to develop binge eating disorder a year later, according to new research.
The study, published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders, found that each additional hour spent on social media was associated with a 62 percent increased risk of binge eating disorder one year later among US children.
It also found that every additional hour spent watching or streaming television or movies leads to a 39 percent increased risk of binge eating disorder one year later.
Binge eating disorder is characterized by eating large amounts of food in a short period of time, a feeling of loss of control during the binge, and experiencing shame or guilt afterward.
This disorder can be serious and life-threatening if it causes heart disease or diabetes.
People with binge eating disorder may be overweight or of normal weight, but unlike those with bulimia, they do not compensate for it by vomiting, using laxatives, or exercising excessively.
They often eat alone or in secret and may eat until they feel uncomfortably full.
“Children may be more likely to overeat while distracted in front of screens. They may also be exposed to more food advertisements on television,” said lead author Jason Nagata, an assistant professor at the University of California, San Francisco.
“Excessive television viewing can lead to binge-eating behavior due to excessive consumption and loss of control.”
The researchers analyzed data from 11,025 children ages 9 to 11 who are part of the Adolescent Brain Development Study, the largest long-term study of brain development in the United States.
The data was collected between 2016 and 2019. The children answered questions about their time spent on six different screen time modes, including television, social media, and texting.
Parents answered questions about their children’s binge behaviors, specifically the frequency and characteristics of overeating and related distress.
“Exposure to social media and unattainable body ideals can lead to negative body image and subsequent binges,” said lead author Kyle Ganson, assistant professor at the University of Toronto Factor-Inwentash School of Social Work.
“This study emphasizes the need for more research on how screen time affects the well-being of young people now and in the future.”
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