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Owning a smartphone at 12 linked to eating disorder symptoms (opens in a new tab)

news-medical.net · 2026-09-30

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Short answer

Supported

Supported.

The story matches what the study reports.

  • 5 supported

Checked against the study summary. The full text wasn't available, so some details couldn't be settled either way.

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Supported

Every claim holds up. All five claims match what the study reports.

  • 5 supported
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Evidence layer

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Each claim gets a verdict. Expand it to see the evidence directly below.

5 claims in this story

Showing all 5 claimsChoose a verdict to focus the list.

Claim 1 of 5SupportedA recent JAMA Network Open study examined the association between smartphone ownership at age 12 and the prevalence of eating disorder symptoms in early adolescence.View evidenceHide evidence

Why this verdict

The abstract-level profile states that the study examined cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between smartphone ownership at age 12 and ED symptoms in adolescence. The story frames this as an association, not causation, and the lead does not outrun the evidence.

1

Study evidence

Owning a smartphone at 12 years was cross-sectionally associated with a higher prevalence of binge-eating symptoms at age 12.PR 1.61 (95% CI 1.17–2.23); P = .003

“To examine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between age of smartphone ownership and ED symptoms in adolescence.”
2

Study evidence

Owning a smartphone at age 12 was associated with higher risk of binge-eating symptoms at age 14 in covariate-adjusted weighted Poisson models.RR 1.67 (95% CI, 1.11–2.52); P = .01

“Cross-sectional and 2-year longitudinal analyses applied generalized linear models with a Poisson distribution and log link…”
Claim 2 of 5SupportedThe study analyzed 8,957 adolescents in the ABCD Study and focused on smartphone ownership at age 12 and eating disorder symptoms at ages 12 and 14.View evidenceHide evidence

As stated8,957 adolescents

Why this verdict

The profile reports an ABCD Study analytic sample of 8,957 participants, with smartphone ownership measured at age 12 and ED symptom outcomes examined at ages 12 and 14. This matches the story’s description of the dataset and focus.

1

Study evidence

Owning a smartphone at 12 years was cross-sectionally associated with a higher prevalence of binge-eating symptoms at age 12.PR 1.61 (95% CI 1.17–2.23); P = .003

“To examine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between age of smartphone ownership and ED symptoms in adolescence.”
2

Study evidence

Owning a smartphone at age 12 was associated with higher risk of binge-eating symptoms at age 14 in covariate-adjusted weighted Poisson models.RR 1.67 (95% CI, 1.11–2.52); P = .01

“Cross-sectional and 2-year longitudinal analyses applied generalized linear models with a Poisson distribution and log link…”
Claim 3 of 5SupportedIn adjusted cross-sectional analyses, owning a smartphone at age 12 was associated with higher rates of binge eating, tying self-worth to weight, and any eating disorder symptom.View evidenceHide evidence

As statedprevalence ratios 1.61, 2.21, and 1.36

Why this verdict

The profile reports covariate-adjusted cross-sectional associations at age 12 for binge-eating symptoms, tying self-worth to weight, and any ED symptom, with the same prevalence ratios stated in the story: PR 1.61, PR 2.21, and PR 1.36.

1

Study evidence

Owning a smartphone at 12 years was cross-sectionally associated with a higher prevalence of binge-eating symptoms at age 12.PR 1.61 (95% CI 1.17–2.23); P = .003

“To examine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between age of smartphone ownership and ED symptoms in adolescence.”
Claim 4 of 5SupportedIn longitudinal analysis, smartphone ownership at age 12 was associated with greater risk of binge eating, inappropriate compensatory behaviors, tying self-worth to weight, and any eating disorder symptom by age 14.View evidenceHide evidence

As statedrisk ratios 1.67, 1.50, 2.03, and 1.49

Why this verdict

The profile reports longitudinal associations from age 12 smartphone ownership to age 14 ED symptom outcomes, including binge eating, inappropriate compensatory behaviors, tying self-worth to weight, and any ED symptom, with the same risk ratios stated in the story: RR 1.67, RR 1.50, RR 2.03, and RR 1.49.

1

Study evidence

Owning a smartphone at age 12 was associated with higher risk of binge-eating symptoms at age 14 in covariate-adjusted weighted Poisson models.RR 1.67 (95% CI, 1.11–2.52); P = .01

“Cross-sectional and 2-year longitudinal analyses applied generalized linear models with a Poisson distribution and log link…”
Claim 5 of 5SupportedThe article says the findings suggest smartphone ownership during early adolescence may be a potentially modifiable correlate of eating disorder risk, but the study cannot establish that smartphone ownership causes these symptoms.View evidenceHide evidence

Why this verdict

The profile characterizes the findings as observational associations with ED risk and explicitly notes that causation is not established. The story’s wording is hedged and uses 'correlate' rather than causal language, so it is consistent with the abstract-level evidence.

1

Study evidence

Owning a smartphone at 12 years was cross-sectionally associated with a higher prevalence of binge-eating symptoms at age 12.PR 1.61 (95% CI 1.17–2.23); P = .003

“To examine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between age of smartphone ownership and ED symptoms in adolescence.”
2

Study evidence

Owning a smartphone at age 12 was associated with higher risk of binge-eating symptoms at age 14 in covariate-adjusted weighted Poisson models.RR 1.67 (95% CI, 1.11–2.52); P = .01

“Cross-sectional and 2-year longitudinal analyses applied generalized linear models with a Poisson distribution and log link…”
Then look for missing context

Context layer

What the story left out

Important study details the story did not include.

  • Generalizability depends on the ABCD cohort design and weighting approach, with percentages weighted to American Community Survey population estimates.

    The story identifies the ABCD Study and sample size but does not reflect the population-weighting context or the profile’s generalizability caveat tied to cohort design and weighting.

    From Descriptive cohort prevalence with population weighting

8 things the story did carry across
  • The paper’s primary cross-sectional analysis estimated adjusted associations between smartphone ownership at age 12 and ED symptoms at age 12.
  • The paper’s primary longitudinal analysis estimated adjusted associations between smartphone ownership at age 12 and ED symptoms at age 14 over approximately two years.
  • The paper reported descriptive ABCD cohort information, including N=8,957 and 6,225 participants owning a smartphone at age 12.
  • The results are observational associations and do not establish that smartphone ownership causes ED symptoms.
  • Cross-sectional age-12 findings cannot establish temporality or directionality.
  • Residual or unmeasured confounding remains possible because the abstract does not specify all covariates in adjusted models.
  • Outcome and exposure measurement details are limited at abstract depth, with ED symptoms treated as binary assessment-derived indicators.
  • The profile notes limited abstract-level information on missing data handling, model diagnostics, and sensitivity analyses.
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Study layer

Study at a glance

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Pieces of work

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Evidence read

study summary

Lead result

human in vivo

1Lead resulthuman in vivoEstimate longitudinal associations between smartphone ownership at age 12 and ED symptom outcomes at age 14 (2-year follow-up) in the ABCD cohort.Prospective cohort (ABCD) longitudinal analysis, 12→14 yearsExpand

In plain English

In a 2-year longitudinal analysis of the ABCD Study, owning a smartphone at age 12 was associated with higher risk of multiple eating-disorder (ED) symptom outcomes at age 14 (binge-eating, inappropriate compensatory behaviors, tying self-worth to weight, and any ED symptom) in covariate-adjusted weighted Poisson regression models estimating risk ratios.

Key findings

  • Owning a smartphone at age 12 was associated with higher risk of binge-eating symptoms at age 14 in covariate-adjusted weighted Poisson models.RR 1.67 (95% CI, 1.11–2.52); P = .01
  • Owning a smartphone at age 12 was associated with higher risk of using inappropriate compensatory behaviors to prevent weight gain at age 14 in covariate-adjusted weighted Poisson models.RR 1.50 (95% CI, 1.16–1.94); P = .002
“Cross-sectional and 2-year longitudinal analyses applied generalized linear models with a Poisson distribution and log link…”
What this piece can’t prove
  • Observational cohort analysis — associations do not establish causation.
  • ED symptom outcomes are binary indicators from study assessments (measurement detail not provided in abstract).
  • Abstract does not specify which covariates were included in adjusted models; residual confounding is possible.

1 further detail could not be confirmed from the summary.

2human in vivoEstimate cross-sectional associations at age 12 between smartphone ownership (owned at 12: yes/no) and eating disorder (ED) symptom outcomes at age 12 in the ABCD cohort.ABCD cross-sectional analysis (age 12); weighted Poisson GLM estimating prevalence ratiosExpand

In plain English

Cross-sectional analysis of ABCD Study participants at 12 years examined whether owning a smartphone at age 12 (yes/no) was associated with prevalence of several binary eating-disorder (ED) symptom outcomes at age 12. Weighted, covariate-adjusted Poisson generalized linear models with a log link were used to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs). Owning a smartphone at 12 was associated with higher prevalence of binge-eating symptoms, tying self-worth to weight, and any ED symptom in covariate-adjusted cross-sectional models.

Key findings

  • Owning a smartphone at 12 years was cross-sectionally associated with a higher prevalence of binge-eating symptoms at age 12.PR 1.61 (95% CI 1.17–2.23); P = .003
  • Owning a smartphone at 12 years was cross-sectionally associated with higher prevalence of tying self-worth to weight at age 12.PR 2.21 (95% CI 1.03–4.74); P = .04
“To examine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations between age of smartphone ownership and ED symptoms in adolescence.”
What this piece can’t prove
  • Cross-sectional design at age 12 prevents establishing temporality or causal inference between smartphone ownership and ED symptoms.
  • Abstract does not list the covariates included in adjusted models; potential for residual confounding remains.
  • Reported results are population-weighted estimates from the ABCD cohort; generalizability beyond the sampled population is subject to the cohort design and weighting approach.

1 further detail could not be confirmed from the summary.

3human in vivoDescribe prevalence of smartphone ownership at age 12 and prevalence of specific ED symptoms at ages 12 and 14 in the ABCD cohort (weighted descriptive epidemiology).Descriptive cohort prevalence with population weightingExpand

In plain English

In the ABCD Study cohort (weighted to population estimates using American Community Survey calibration), 6225 of 8957 participants (69.5%) owned a smartphone at age 12. Among those 6225 participants, reported weighted prevalences of eating-disorder (ED) symptoms included binge-eating symptoms at 12 years (315; 9.2%) and inappropriate compensatory behaviors at 14 years (494; 20.5%). Percentages were weighted to represent population estimates.

Key findings

  • Prevalence of smartphone ownership at 12 years in the ABCD cohort (weighted): 6225 of 8957 participants, 69.5%.69.5% (6225/8957)
  • Among the 6225 participants, binge-eating symptoms at 12 years: 315 cases (9.2%).9.2% (315/6225)
“Percentages were weighted based on American Community Survey data to represent population estimates.”
What this piece can’t prove

3 further details could not be confirmed from the summary.

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Papers considered

The selected paper, plus nearby candidates.

PubMed, Europe PMC, Crossref · 15 candidate papers

And 9 more candidates considered.