Interrelationships among Smartphone Addiction, Eating Attitudes, and Body Mass Index in Healthcare Students: A Cross-sectional Analytical Study

BACKGROUND: At present, rampant utilization of smartphones excessive smartphone has ingrained in the daily lives of university students, sequeling as a potential behavioral health concern. Recent findings suggest links between digital engagement, eating behaviors, and body mass index (BMI); that eminently remain inconsistent, within Southeast Asian student populations. The objective is to examine the interrelationships among smartphone addiction (SMA) risk, eating attitudes, and BMI among healthcare students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among the 450 medical and dental students, a cross-sectional analytical study was conducted, and sociodemographic data were collected simultaneously with validated instruments: the SMA Scale-Short Version and the Eating Attitudes Test-26. BMI data were calculated from self-reported height and weight. Associations were examined using Chi-square analysis, binary logistic regression, and Kruskal-Wallis tests with Dunn-Bonferroni post hoc comparisons. RESULTS: High risk of SMA and eating disorder was identified in 41.3% and 43.1% of students, respectively. A significantly weak association was observed between SMA risk and eating disorder risk (P = 0.037, Cramer's V = 0.099). SMA scores did not differ significantly across BMI categories (P = 0.30), whereas eating attitude scores varied significantly by BMI (P < 0.001), with higher BMI groups demonstrating greater vulnerability. CONCLUSION: SMA risk and eating attitude risks are synchronized with a modest relationship among healthcare students. BMI was closely associated with the eating pathology than to SMA. Holistic student well-being strategies addressing both digital habits and body-related concerns may be beneficial.