Too Much Screen Time Linked to Binge Eating in Children, New Study Shows

According to a recent national survey, children in the United States who have excessive screen time at the age of 9-10 are more likely to develop a binge-eating disorder within one year.

The research published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders discovered that each additional hour spent on social media was linked to a 62 percent increased risk of binge-eating disorder a year later.

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Binge-eating disorder is described as eating a large amount of food in a short time, feeling out of control while doing so, and feeling remorse or guilt afterward. Binge-eating disorder is the most common eating disorder in the United States, and it can be severe and life-threatening if it leads to heart disease or diabetes.

The researchers looked at data from 11,025 children aged nine to eleven who were part of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, the country's most extensive long-term brain development study.

The kids were asked questions about how much time they spent on six different screen time types, such as television, social media, and texting. Parents were asked about their children's binge-eating habits, including the extent and characteristics of overeating and the associated anxiety.

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Pandemic resulted in more screen time linked to binge eating pushed and what to do about it

COVID-19 has not only made it more difficult for eating disorder patients, but it has also increased screen time for both adults and children.

Dr. Natalie D. Muth, chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Obesity, said, "The COVID-19 pandemic has led to kids spending so much time on screens for both school and entertainment, given a huge void in extracurricular." 

She mentioned that since the discovery of COVID-19, the American Academy of Pediatrics had seen a rise in obesity and eating disorders, raising fears among experts regarding post-pandemic implications.

"Once we get through this pandemic, we are going to be dealing with the mental health fallout for children and adolescents for a while," she said. "Part of that is going to be related to screen time addictive behaviors and eating problems, including binging."

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The pandemic has facilitated and, in some cases, required prolonged screen-based activities, such as online schooling. Parents, on the other hand, may use tactics to keep risks to a minimum.

Muth advises that meal and snack times be scheduled as often as possible, with as few distractions as possible. Parents should not encourage or strongly discourage eating when using a screen or gadget.

Increased eating habits appear to occur later in the evenings, so sleep is also significant. She advises against using a screen within an hour of going to bed. To that end, she suggests that parents prohibit devices from being used in their children's quarters,

Parents should set a good example for their children by modeling healthy eating habits and putting these suggestions into effect.

However, suppose parents find worrying patterns in their children. In that case, Muth suggests talking to them openly to understand better what's going on - and seeking support if they're concerned that their child's eating habits have gotten out of hand.

The study was performed before the COVID-19 outbreak. Still, its results are timely and demonstrate the need for further studies on the correlations between screen time and adolescent well-being.