Children who own a smartphone by age 12 face an elevated likelihood of developing disordered eating symptoms compared to peers without the devices, according to a study published on Friday in the medical journal JAMA Network Open. Researchers analyzed survey data from nearly 9,000 adolescents across the United States to examine how early device access impacts eating behaviors years later.
Smartphone Access and Adolescent Eating Behaviors
The study found that 70% of 12-year-olds surveyed owned a smartphone. Among that group, 24% reported at least one symptom of an eating disorder by age 14. In contrast, less than 16% of adolescents who did not own a smartphone at age 12 reported disordered eating behaviors two years later. Dr. Jason Nagata, associate professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco, and lead author of the study, noted that ownership places appearance-centric content directly into a young person’s hands.
“A smartphone can put in the pocket of a young person a whole world of appearance-focused content,” Nagata said, exposing children to images and messaging that promote unhealthy eating practices. He emphasized that the timing of device ownership plays a critical role in digital exposure and subsequent health outcomes.
Mechanisms of Body Dissatisfaction in Early Adolescence
Preadolescence is a critical developmental window for both physical and emotional growth. Puberty triggers significant bodily changes, making body image perception particularly sensitive. Historically, peer comparisons occurred primarily within immediate social circles. However, curated, edited, and filtered images from online influencers amplify body dissatisfaction and lower self-esteem, establishing risk factors for eating disorders.
The data shows that 12-year-olds with smartphones were twice as likely to tie their self-worth to their weight and 1.5 times more likely to attempt weight control methods, such as eating low-calorie foods or engaging in excessive exercise. Disordered eating symptoms differ from clinical eating disorders primarily in severity and diagnostic criteria, though both involve an excessive preoccupation with food, body shape, and weight alongside restrictive or compensatory habits. Approximately 22% of children and adolescents globally exhibit signs of disordered eating behaviors.
Expert Recommendations on Device Delays
Delaying smartphone access can shield adolescents from body image distress during vulnerable developmental stages. Dr. Mitch Prinstein, distinguished professor of psychology and neuroscience at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and co-director of the Winston Center on Technology and Brain Development, who was not involved in the research, noted that emerging studies support delaying device access by six months to a year to safeguard mental health.
When children eventually receive devices, Prinstein recommends that parents gradually increase social media exposure rather than providing fully unlocked access immediately.
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