Study links overeating in children to their screen time

Gulf Today Report

Children between the age of 9 and 10 are more likely to develop binge-eating disorder within a year if they spend a lot of time on social media platforms or watching TV, a new research has found.

Binge-eating disorder is characterised by eating large quantities of food in a short period of time, a feeling of loss of control during the binge, and experiencing shame or guilt afterwards.

This disorder can be severe and life-threatening if it causes heart disease or diabetes.

The study found that each additional hour spent on social media was associated with a 62 per cent higher risk of binge-eating disorder one year later among kids in the US.

Each additional hour spent watching or streaming television or movies led to a 39 per cent higher risk of binge-eating disorder one year later, found the study published in the International Journal of eating Disorders,

People with binge-eating disorder may be overweight or of normal weight, but unlike those with bulimia, they do not compensate by vomiting, using laxatives or exercising excessively.

They frequently eat alone or in secret and may eat until they are uncomfortably full.

"Children may be more prone to overeating while distracted in front of screens. They may also be exposed to more food advertisements on television," said lead author, Jason Nagata, Assistant Professor at the University of California, San Francisco.

"Binge-watching television may lead to binge-eating behaviour because of overconsumption and a loss of control."

The researchers analysed data from 11,025 children 9-11-years old who are part of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, the largest long-term study of brain development in the US.

Data were collected from 2016-2019. The children answered questions about their time spent on six different screen time modalities, including television, social media, and texting.

Parents answered questions about their children's binge-eating behaviour, specifically the frequency and characteristics of overeating and related distress.