Social media addiction and its association with eating disorder risk among first-year students at a private Peruvian university

Abstract

University students face increasing exposure to social media platforms that often promote idealized body standards, raising concerns about their potential impact on eating behaviors. This study explored whether social media addiction and body image dissatisfaction are associated with the risk of eating disorders (EDs) among first-year students at a private Peruvian university. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 403 participants who completed three validated instruments: the Social Media Addiction Questionnaire, the Body Dissatisfaction Scale, and the EAT-26. Data were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate models to estimate prevalence ratios (PR). Overall, 13.6% of students were at risk of EDs, with women showing higher prevalence (15%) than men (10%). WhatsApp, Instagram, and TikTok were the most commonly used platforms. High social media addiction was significantly associated with EDs risk (adjusted PR=3.03; 95% CI: 1.33–6.91; p=0.02), whereas body dissatisfaction showed no significant association. These findings point to a possible link between social media engagement patterns and EDs risk in this population, though further research is needed to better understand this relationship. Considering social media consumption habits could be a useful element in eating disorder prevention efforts among young university populations.