Social Media, Binge Eating Often Go Together for Kids

WEDNESDAY, March 3, 2021 (HealthDay Information)

Could limitless hrs used scrolling as a result of social media and watching Television set result in binge eating in preteens?

Seemingly so, new investigation suggests.

“Little ones might be a lot more inclined to overeating while distracted in front of screens. They might also be exposed to a lot more foodstuff commercials on tv,” reported examine author Dr. Jason Nagata. He is an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco.

“Binge-watching tv might direct to binge-eating behaviors because of overconsumption and a reduction of control,” he reported in a university information launch.

For the examine, the researchers analyzed info gathered from a lot more than 11,000 U.S. young children, aged nine to 10, that integrated how a lot time they used on six different sorts of media, which includes tv, social media and texting.

There was also info from parents about their children’s binge-eating behaviors.

Every additional hour that young children used on social media was associated with a 62% larger chance of binge-eating ailment one particular yr afterwards, and just about every excess hour used watching or streaming tv or movies was linked with a 39% larger chance of binge-eating ailment one particular yr afterwards. But the examine could not confirm that social media use truly caused binge eating.

The share of young children with binge-eating ailment rose from .seven% at the start out of the examine to 1.1% one particular yr afterwards, a level which is envisioned to improve in the late teens and early adulthood, the examine authors observed.

Men and women with binge-eating ailment eat substantial quantities of foodstuff in a limited period of time of time. They truly feel a reduction of control all through the binge, and disgrace or guilt later on.

Binge-eating ailment is the most popular eating ailment in the United States and can be severe or everyday living-threatening if it results in diabetes or coronary heart condition.

According to senior examine author Kyle Ganson, “This examine emphasizes the need for a lot more investigation on how display screen time impacts the nicely-staying of young people now and in the potential.” Ganson is an assistant professor at the University of Toronto’s School of Social Perform.

“Exposure to social media and unattainable system ideals might direct to a destructive system picture and subsequent binge eating,” he observed.

The examine was released March 1 in the International Journal of Having Problems.

Nagata instructed that although “display screen time can have important rewards these as training and socialization all through the pandemic, parents really should consider to mitigate pitfalls from too much display screen time these as binge eating. Mothers and fathers really should consistently converse to their young children about display screen-time utilization and create a loved ones media use strategy.”

A lot more info

The U.S. Nationwide Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders has a lot more on binge-eating ailment.

Source: University of California, San Francisco, information launch, March 1, 2021

Robert Preidt

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