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Journals / Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine / 2026 / Volume: 9 Issue: 3

Evaluation of the relationship between internet addiction, eating behavior, and obesity-related measures among university students

Sabriye Arslan(GAZİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, SAĞLIK BİLİMLERİ FAKÜLTESİ, BESLENME VE DİYETETİK BÖLÜMÜ)0000-0002-9068-4009
Meryem Saban Güler(Batman Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Beslenme ve Dİyetetik Bölümü)0000-0002-7202-0524
Büşra Ayhan(GAZİ ÜNİVERSİTESİ, SAĞLIK BİLİMLERİ FAKÜLTESİ, BESLENME VE DİYETETİK BÖLÜMÜ)0000-0001-8617-8552
Pages
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Publication Date
2026-05-19
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Longitudinal studies are needed to clarify causality.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Aims: This study evaluated the relationships between internet addiction, appetite-related eating behavior subdimensions, physical activity level, and anthropometric indicators among university students.
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Key Findings & Data:Methods: In this cross-sectional study conducted between December 2025 and February 2026, 512 undergraduate students aged 19-30 years were recruited via online data collection.
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Conclusion & Impact:Longitudinal studies are needed to clarify causality.
🔬Design:Survey & Empirical Study
📍Scope:2025 Verileri
⚙️Variables:University students · internet addiction · eating behavior

Abstract

Aims: This study evaluated the relationships between internet addiction, appetite-related eating behavior subdimensions, physical activity level, and anthropometric indicators among university students. Methods: In this cross-sectional study conducted between December 2025 and February 2026, 512 undergraduate students aged 19-30 years were recruited via online data collection. Internet addiction was assessed using the Young Internet Addiction Test-Short Form (YIAT-SF), eating behaviors using the Adult Eating Behavior Questionnaire (AEBQ), and physical activity using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF). Self-reported anthropometric data were used to calculate body-mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were performed. Results: Internet addiction scores were positively correlated with food responsiveness (r=0.425), emotional overeating (r=0.374), hunger (r=0.472), BMI (r=0.272), and WHR (r=0.190) (all p<0.01). In regression analysis, hunger (β=0.203), food responsiveness (β=0.189), emotional overeating (β=0.132), BMI (β=0.113), and physical activity level (β=0.105) significantly associated with internet addiction (p<0.05). Students from non-health-related departments had higher food fussiness, hunger, BMI, and internet addiction scores than health sciences students (p<0.05). Conclusion: Internet addiction was significantly associated with appetite-related eating behaviors and selected anthropometric indicators (BMI and WHR). These findings suggest a potential association between digital lifestyle patterns and dietary behaviors as well as metabolic health in young adults. University-based interventions integrating healthy digital use and eating behavior awareness may be warranted. Longitudinal studies are needed to clarify causality.

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Cite This Article

Arslan, S., Güler, M. S., Ayhan, B. (2026). Evaluation of the relationship between internet addiction, eating behavior, and obesity-related measures among university students. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine, Volume: 9 Issue: 3. https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1898008

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