سامانه کنگره های دانشگاه علوم پزشکی و خدمات بهداشتی و درمانی آذربایجان غربی

صفحه اصلی / بیستمین همایش سالیانه بیماری های شایع گوارش و کبد کودکان ایران و دومین همایش بین المللی چاقی کودکان

The Social Media Usage and Obesity in Children

نویسندگان :

Negar Moosaee Farahani¹ Sajjad Moradi² Aylin Ebrahimpour³

1- دانشکده علوم پزشکی مراغه 2- دانشکده علوم پزشکی مراغه 3- دانشکده علوم پزشکی مراغه

کلمات کلیدی :

Social Media،Obesity،Children،Screen Time

چکیده :

Background and Aim: With the increasing prevalence of childhood obesity, researchers are exploring various lifestyle factors contributing to this trend. Social media usage has risen significantly among children, potentially influencing sedentary behavior and dietary habits. This study aims to investigate the correlation between social media usage and obesity levels in children. Methods: This study utilized a review design, evaluating some articles published up to April 2025. These articles were sourced from the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. The primary focus of the studies was to explore the relationship between social media and childhood obesity. The literature search was conducted using the keywords: Social Media, Obesity, and Children. Results: Findings indicate a positive correlation between prolonged social media usage and childhood obesity prevalence. Social media can influence eating disorders through misleading advertisements. Research suggests that lengthy engagement with digital media is linked to a preference for sweet, fatty, and salty foods, resulting in increased snacking and overall energy intake. Additionally, extended social media use adversely affects sleep duration and quality, disrupting hunger-regulating hormones and potentially leading to overeating and obesity. The excessive use of social media also contributes to decreased physical activity. These factors collectively cause to obesity in children. However, some research concludes that social media can be utilized to promote physical activity and healthy eating among otherwise hard-to-engage groups. Conclusion: Social media has both positive and negative effects. On the positive side, it can educate children about healthy food choices, promote balanced diets, and inspire healthier habits. Conversely, it can expose them to unhealthy food ads, encourage inactivity, and create peer pressure, leading to poor food choices and a higher risk of obesity. Its impact largely depends on the content children engage with and the time spent on these platforms.