Study Links Early Smartphone Access to Higher Eating Disorder Rates in Teens
A new study published in JAMA Network Open finds that US children who own smartphones by age 12 are significantly more likely to develop eating disorder symptoms by age 14. The research, led by Dr. Jason Nagata of the University of California, San Francisco, analyzed data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study. It highlights that early device access exposes preteens to appearance-focused content, which correlates with increased body dissatisfaction and disordered eating behaviors. Experts suggest delaying smartphone ownership by six months to a year may mitigate these risks.