Association Between Smartphone Addiction, Eating Disorders and Obesity Among Female University Students: A Cross-sectional Study

Aim: This study examined the relationships among smartphone addiction, eating disorders, and obesity in university students. Methods: The sample comprised 204 female students aged 18–25 years who were studying at the Faculty of Health Sciences, İnönü University. Participants completed the Smartphone Addiction Scale– Short Form and the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire–Short Form, and their Body Mass Index was assessed. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics, version 25.0. Results: The participants’ average age was 20.20±2.97 years, while their average BMI was 21.88±3.70 kg/m². Based on Body Mass Index categories, 68.6% were classified as normal weight, 13.7% as underweight, and 3.9% as obese. Average Smartphone Addiction Scale–Short Form and Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire–Short Form scores were 28.75±11.15 and 1.14±1.29, respectively. Eating disorder scores were weakly but positively associated with smartphone addiction scores, and this relationship was statistically significant. Significant positive relationships of weak magnitude were also found between Smartphone Addiction Scale–Short Form scores and the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire–Short Form dimensions of shape and weight concern, body dissatisfaction, binge eating, and purging behavior. Nevertheless, the relationship between smartphone addiction and BMI did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion: These results indicate a weak relationship between smartphone addiction and eating disorder symptoms, including binge eating, body dissatisfaction, and purging, and suggest that smartphone addiction may adversely affect eating behaviors, body image, and mental health among young female university students. Further longitudinal studies across varied ages and genders are recommended to clarify this relationship.