Children who spend a lot of time on social media platforms or watching TV at ages 9-10 are more likely to develop binge-eating disorder one year later, new research has found.

The study, published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders, found that each additional hour spent on social media was associated with a 62 per cent higher risk of binge-eating disorder one year later among kids in the US.

Binge-eating disorder is characterized by eating large quantities of food in a short period of time, a feeling of loss of control during the binge, and experiencing shame or guilt afterward.

This disorder can be severe and life-threatening if it causes heart disease or diabetes.

They frequently eat alone or in secret and may eat until they are uncomfortably full.

"Binge-watching television may lead to binge-eating behaviors because of overconsumption and a loss of control."

The researchers analyzed data from 11,025 children 9-11-years old who are part of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, the largest long-term study of brain development in the US.

Data were collected from 2016-2019. The children answered questions about their time spent on six different screen time modalities, including television, social media, and texting.

"Exposure to social media and unattainable body ideals may lead to a negative body image and subsequent binge eating," said senior author, Kyle Ganson, Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto's Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work.

"This study emphasises the need for more research on how screen time impacts the well-being of young people now and in the future."

(This story was published from a syndicated feed. Only the headline and picture has been edited by FIT).