The Relationship Between Internet Addiction and Body Mass Index in Turkish Adolescents

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate Internet use patterns and Internet addiction among adolescents and to examine the correlation between Internet addiction and eating attitudes and body mass index (BMI). The study was conducted among 1,938 students, aged between 14 and 18 years. The Internet Addiction Test (IAT), the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT), and a sociodemographic query form were used to collect data. According to the IAT, 12.4% of the study sample met the criteria for Internet addiction. A significant positive correlation between BMI and the IAT (r=0.307; p<0.01) and weekly Internet use (r=0.215; p<0.01) was found. Nine students with Internet addiction (3.8%) and 90 with average Internet use (5.3%) were found to have a possible eating disorder (p>0.05). No relationship was found between the EAT and the IAT and duration of weekly Internet use. Linear regression analysis revealed a significant independent association of the IAT with BMI (r=0.235; p<0.001). These results indicate an association between Internet addiction and BMI. Further studies are needed to describe the causality of this association.

The Relationship Between Body Image Concerns, Eating Disorders and Internet Use, Part I: A Review of Empirical Support

“…Problematic Internet use was also associated with drive for thinness among a sample of US female eating disorder outpatients (Claes et al 2012). However, in contrast to these findings, a study among just under 2000 Turkish adolescents aged 14-18 years found no relationship between weekly Internet use, Internet addiction scores and disordered eating (Canan et al 2014). In sum, the relationship between problematic Internet use and body image and eating concerns has also been overall supported.…”

“…Addiction, Self-Regulation, Impulsivity A few studies have considered that the relationship between Internet use and body image and eating concerns might be due to common underlying self-regulation deficits (Wilson 2010). Consistent with this, findings have supported the relationship between compulsive and addictive Internet use, and disordered eating (Alpaslan et al 2015;Claes et al 2012;Tao 2013;Tao and Liu 2009), although one study found no evidence of a relationship between Internet addiction and disordered eating (Canan et al 2014). Thus, overall, findings have confirmed that considering self-regulation deficits might help clarify the relationship between Internet use and body image and eating concerns.…”

Comorbidity between Behavioral Addictions and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: a Systematic Review

“…However, differences have also been noted between Internet addiction and substance addictions (Yau et al 2012). The prevalence rates for Internet addiction have been reported to vary widely from less than 0.1 % to close to 50 % depending on the region, methodology and samples utilized (Canan et al 2014;Ha et al 2006;Kaess et al 2014;Petry and O'Brien 2013;Shaw and Black 2008). Cross-sectional studies tend to report high comorbidity of Internet addiction with other mental disorders (Canan et al 2012;Carli et al 2013;Ho et al 2014).…”

The association between internet addiction and disordered eating attitudes among Turkish high school students

“…As a point of agreement among studies, internet use of 5 h a day and more is regarded as problematic [1]. Prevalence statistics of IA in adolescents vary widely from 2 to 20 % across cultures and societies [6]. The prevalence of IA among young people in Europe has been reported to be 2.5-4 % [7].…”