Does Smartphone Ownership Among Children Increase the Risk of Eating Disorders? Shocking Findings from Recent Research

The Link Between Smartphone Ownership at Age 12 and "Food Concerns"—Exploring Parent-Child Rules from a Study of About 9,000 People

"So they can contact us after cram school," "They're entering middle school soon," "Their friends already have one."

Each family has its own reasons when giving a child their first smartphone. While it offers convenience and peace of mind, parents can't easily see what their children are viewing on the screen or how it makes them feel.

A new perspective has been introduced by a study that found children who owned a smartphone at age 12 were more likely to report symptoms related to eating disorders at age 14 compared to those who did not own one.

However, interpreting this result as "giving a smartphone leads to eating disorders" is not accurate. It's important to distinguish between the correlations revealed by the study and what remains unknown.

What Did the Study Investigate?

The study, published in the medical journal "JAMA Network Open," used data from the "ABCD Study," which tracks brain development and health in children in the U.S. The analysis included 8,957 participants, about 70% of whom owned a smartphone at age 12.

Researchers focused on four symptoms related to eating habits and perceptions of weight.

• Symptoms of binge eating
• Inappropriate compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain
• Anxiety about gaining weight
• Linking self-worth to weight

These were examined at ages 12 and 14, analyzing their relationship with smartphone ownership.

It's important to note that the study focused on "symptoms," not the percentage of individuals diagnosed with eating disorders by medical institutions. It was a study capturing concerns about eating and weight, not implying that all children who met the criteria were diagnosed with a disorder.

How to Interpret "24.2% and 15.5%"

At age 14, the percentage of those reporting at least one of the symptoms studied was 24.2% in the group that owned a smartphone at age 12, compared to 15.5% in the group that did not.

The difference is 8.7 points. When converted to per 100 people, this equates to a difference of about 24 people versus about 16 people.

Researchers also considered factors such as gender, household income, parental education level, weight, pubertal development, symptoms of depression and ADHD, parental supervision, and ownership of other digital devices. Symptoms related to eating disorders already present at age 12 were also included in the adjustments.

Even so, smartphone ownership at age 12 was associated with a 49% higher risk of reporting some symptoms at age 14.

This "49% higher" does not mean the probability of onset is 49%, nor does it mean an increase of 49 points. It's a relative difference between groups after statistically considering various conditions.

For individual symptoms, binge eating was 67% higher, and inappropriate compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain were 50% higher. There was about a twofold association with symptoms linking weight to self-worth.

The Issue of "Weight as Self-Worth"

Among the results, the link between weight and self-evaluation is something to consider in daily life.

For example, thoughts like "I have no value because I've gained weight" or "If I don't get closer to the ideal appearance, I won't be recognized by others." These are examples to explain the meaning and are not quotes from study participants.

There is a difference between being concerned about body shape and judging one's worth based on weight. The latter's distress is not easily visible from the outside.

Even if parents are aware of their child's smartphone usage time, they can't know how the child feels about their body after viewing the screen just by looking at the time spent.

This study suggests that when considering a child's digital environment, it's also necessary to consider aspects like diet, body shape, and self-evaluation.

It's Not Proven That Smartphones Are the Cause

This study is not an experiment where smartphones were randomly distributed to children to compare their effects. It is an observational study tracking groups who owned and did not own smartphones in real life.

Even with statistical adjustments for family environment and other factors, it's impossible to completely eliminate unmeasured factors. Therefore, the remaining correlation must be distinguished from a confirmed cause.

Additionally, the condition "owned at age 12" does not mean "everyone got one on their 12th birthday." This study alone cannot determine a uniform boundary for what age is safe or how long to wait.

Another important point is that ownership of a device is not the same as its usage content.

The experiences differ between children who primarily use it to contact family and those who spend long hours viewing posts about appearance. The results obtained from ownership alone cannot definitively attribute the cause to specific apps or usage patterns.

On Social Media, "Concern" and "Don't Oversimplify" Intersect

On the overseas forum Reddit's "r/science," various opinions were shared regarding children's smartphone use. The following are summaries of posts observed, not representative of overall social media opinion or the views of Japanese parents.

One opinion was cautious about interpreting the study, pointing out that results indicating a correlation should not be taken as proof of causation.

Another post questioned whether the issue should be the device itself or access to SNS and other platforms. Some families mentioned allowing the device for communication while restricting its functions.

Meanwhile, there is parental uncertainty. Even if they worry about risks, there's anxiety about their child being left out of social circles by not having a smartphone.

There were also experiences shared about families cooperating to provide alternative means for children to communicate. However, personal anecdotes are not the same as research-verified methods.

These discussions highlight the reality that it's not easy to resolve the issue with a simple "buy or not buy" decision. It's necessary to consider safety communication, connections with friends, usage content, and family rules together.

In Japanese Families, Start with "Why Own One?"

In Japan, there are likely families who want to give their children devices for communication related to commuting or extracurricular activities. The necessity of this and the state of freely accessing various content can be considered separately.

If this study is to be used in family discussions, the starting point should be not only "at what age to give one" but also specifying "why it is necessary."

Is communication the main purpose? Do they want to use it for photos and research? Are they hoping to use SNS? By organizing the necessary functions, differences in perception between parents and children can become clearer.

Then, discuss usage time, location, and additional apps. The following are examples for families to consider, not methods with proven preventive effects from the study.

• Set times when the family puts away devices, such as during meals.
• When using a new app, confirm its purpose and sharing scope together.
• Create opportunities to discuss posts that leave them feeling down.
• Share the approach of first listening to circumstances when a problem is confided.

Instead of just asking "How many hours did you watch?" also ask "Did anything make you feel bad while watching?" This inquiry can be an entry point to noticing concerns not visible through time management alone.

Don't Make Food and Weight Concerns Solely a Smartphone Issue

When a child's eating habits change drastically or they are severely distressed about weight or body shape, assuming it's "because of the smartphone" risks overlooking other factors.

The National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry's Eating Disorder Information Portal introduces noticeable changes, such as drastically reduced food intake or avoiding certain foods.

If concerning states persist, it's important not to blame the individual or judge severity based solely on appearance, but to connect them with medical institutions or consultation services. If unsure about local medical facilities, contacting mental health welfare centers is an option.

When consulting, it's helpful to convey when changes in eating habits or feelings began and what difficulties exist in daily life. Smartphone usage can also be shared as part of the lifestyle context.

The Question Is How to Engage After Giving the Device

The results of the U.S. study cannot be directly applied to the future of each Japanese child. Families who have already given smartphones don't need to blame themselves based on these numbers alone.

However, the indicated link with concerns about eating habits and weight broadens the perspective on children's smartphone use.

While there's reassurance in being able to contact them, what comparisons or evaluations exist beyond the screen? How do children perceive them, and who can they talk to when troubled?

The day a smartphone is given is a one-time decision. However, discussions about its use and feelings can be revisited as they grow.

Sources and References

1. RTTNews/dpa-AFX article published on FinanzNachrichten
   Reporting on study results regarding smartphone ownership and eating disorder-related symptoms two years later.
   https://www.finanznachrichten.de/nachrichten-2026-10/69802628-could-smartphone-ownership-among-children-increase-risk-of-eating-disorder-symptoms-020.htm

2. JAMA Network Open paper "Smartphone Ownership and Eating Disorder Symptoms in Early Adolescence"
   Primary source confirming the number of subjects, research methods, symptom definitions, and the association with smartphone ownership. Published on September 25, 2026. It is an observational study targeting symptoms, not diagnoses.PMC
   https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2854492

3. Reddit "r/science" public thread on the study
   Source of SNS reactions. Summarizes posts on caution regarding causation, distinction between devices and usage content, parental uncertainty, and family cooperation. The experiences and opinions of the posters are not independently verified facts.reddit.com
   https://www.reddit.com/r/science/comments/1wvqtqy/owning_a_smartphone_at_age_12_was_associated_with/

4. National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry "Eating Disorder Information Portal: Frequently Asked Questions"
   Reference for noticeable signs and explanations about consultations and visits.Eating Disorder Information Portal (General Public)
   https://edcenter.ncnp.go.jp/edportal_general/q_a.html

5. Eating Disorder Information Portal "Consultation and Referral"
   Guide for finding consultation services and medical institutions in Japan.Eating Disorder Information Portal (General Public)
   https://edcenter.ncnp.go.jp/edportal_general/consultation.html