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Increasing screen time and social media use significantly raise the risk of eating disorders among teens. Parents often blame junk food, sugary snacks, or poor eating habits when children develop unhealthy relationships with food. But new research suggests another powerful influence is hiding in plain sight: Social media.A study by Turkish researchers Gamze Yurtdas Depboylu, Gulsah Kaner, and Semiha Ozcakal found that heavy social media use among teenagers is strongly linked to unhealthy eating attitudes, poor body image, and orthorexia nervosa, an unhealthy obsession with eating “perfectly” or “clean”. The study surveyed more than 1,200 high school students and found that the more addicted teens were to social media, the more likely they were to struggle with body dissatisfaction and disordered eating patterns.Girls were especially affected. They reported higher levels of social media addiction than boys and were also more dissatisfied with their bodies. Researchers say constant exposure to idealised images of beauty, fitness, and thinness encourages comparison. That comparison can slowly turn into shame, restriction, and obsessive food rules.One of the study’s most striking findings involved nutrition content. Teenagers who regularly followed food and diet posts from influencers, celebrities, or online “wellness experts” were six times more likely to show signs of eating problems. Many were also more likely to develop orthorexic tendencies, cutting out foods they believed were unhealthy in pursuit of an unrealistic ideal.A second study from Italy adds to the concern. Researchers Silvia Cimino, Carlos A Almenara, and Luca Cerniglia examined 232 girls aged 9 to 10 and found that those showing signs of Instagram addiction were more likely to feel unhappy with their bodies and more driven to become thinner. They also scored higher on emotional instability and social withdrawal.The warning is clear: Social media is shaping self-image far earlier than many adults realise. Even before adolescence, children may be absorbing harmful messages about beauty, weight, and worth.Experts say the answer is not simply banning screens, especially when digital platforms are now part of everyday life. Instead, children need guidance. Parents and schools must teach young people how to question what they see online, recognise unrealistic images, and reject extreme diet advice dressed up as health.In a world ruled by filters, likes, and curated perfection, protecting children means helping them build confidence that does not depend on appearance, approval, or the next post on their feed.The body image trapGirls showed higher social media addiction levels than boysFrequently reading nutrition-related posts increased the likelihood of eating behaviour disorder riskBetter body image was linked to lower social media addictionHigher social media addiction was associated with a greater risk of eating behaviour disordersInstagram addiction was linked to higher body dissatisfaction, stronger drive for thinness, and greater emotional reactivityAbout the AuthorShelley SinghIt’s been a roller coaster ride of more than two decades in journalism across two magazines and three newspapers. I have been at The Economic Times for more than a decade and in June 2021 I joined ET Prime. I have written features across topics including technology, digital disruption, social media, telecom, startups, e-commerce, strategy, management and private equity. I have also moderated various panel discussions on business and technology matters. I was the first winner from India of the Citi Journalistic Excellence Award, Columbia University, 2015. I have also won the Shriram Award for Journalism in 2019, the Polestar award for business & tech journalism and the British Chevening Scholarship in 2002. 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