Smartphone Use Before Age 12 Increases Risk of Binge Eating in Adolescence
As the number of adolescents using smartphones at an early age continues to rise, interest in the impact this has on their health is growing. According to a recent study, children who began using smartphones before the age of 12 were 67% more likely to be at risk of binge eating two years later compared to those who did not.
Researchers analyzed that excessive smartphone use can have a negative impact on adolescents' eating habits. Developing the habit of eating while looking at a smartphone makes it difficult to recognize how much one has consumed, which significantly increases the likelihood of overeating or binge eating.
Furthermore, as smartphone usage time increases, physical activity levels decrease, and irregular lifestyle habits are more likely to form. This lifestyle can lead to emotional instability during adolescence and creates a tendency to relieve stress through food.
Experts advise that it is important for parents to appropriately manage their children's smartphone usage time. In particular, it is recommended to set rules against using smartphones during mealtimes and to create an environment where families can eat while conversing with one another.
Healthy eating habits during adolescence are a crucial factor in determining lifelong health. Careful attention and guidance from both home and school are necessary to ensure that children can grow up healthily without becoming dependent on smartphones.