The effect of Internet addiction on eating attitude and body image in university students

Problem: The research was carried out to determine the effect of internet addiction on eating attitude and body perception. Methods: This study is descriptive, conducted with undergraduate students (n = 400) in a university in eastern Turkey. The data were collected by using Descriptive Questionnaire, Young Internet Addiction Test—Short-Form (YIAT-SF), Eating Attitude Test 26 (EAT-26), and Body Cathexis Scale (BCS). In addition, students' height and weight measurements were collected. Findings: It was determined that there was positively at a very weak level a significant correlation between YIAT-SF total score and EAT-26 total score. There was a negative, weak significant correlation between the total score of YIAT-SF and the BCS total score (p < 0.05). Conclusions: In students, internet addiction is related to eating behavior disorder and reduces satisfaction with body image. For this reason, education programs should be organized by health professionals to prevent internet addiction and psychological and physiological problems related to excessive internet use. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC