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

Sabriye Arslan; Meryem Saban Güler; Büşra Ayhan

doi:10.32322/jhsm.1898008

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

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.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Batman University (Date: 04.12.2025, Decision Number: 2025/12). Informed Consent Written informed consent was obtained from all individual participants prior to their inclusion in the study.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Public Health Nutrition

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Sabriye Arslan ^*
0000-0002-9068-4009
Türkiye

Meryem Saban Güler
0000-0002-7202-0524
Türkiye

Büşra Ayhan
0000-0001-8617-8552
Türkiye

Publication Date

May 19, 2026

Submission Date

February 26, 2026

Acceptance Date

April 24, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 9 Number: 3

DOI

https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1898008

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA55ZT75DE

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Arslan, S., Saban Güler, M., & 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, 9(3), 744-753. https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1898008

AMA

1.Arslan S, Saban Güler M, Ayhan B. Evaluation of the relationship between internet addiction, eating behavior, and obesity-related measures among university students. J Health Sci Med / JHSM. 2026;9(3):744-753. doi:10.32322/jhsm.1898008

Chicago

Arslan, Sabriye, Meryem Saban Güler, and Büşra Ayhan. 2026. “Evaluation of the Relationship Between Internet Addiction, Eating Behavior, and Obesity-Related Measures Among University Students”. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine 9 (3): 744-53. https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1898008.

EndNote

Arslan S, Saban Güler M, Ayhan B (May 1, 2026) Evaluation of the relationship between internet addiction, eating behavior, and obesity-related measures among university students. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine 9 3 744–753.

IEEE

[1]S. Arslan, M. Saban Güler, and B. Ayhan, “Evaluation of the relationship between internet addiction, eating behavior, and obesity-related measures among university students”, J Health Sci Med / JHSM, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 744–753, May 2026, doi: 10.32322/jhsm.1898008.

ISNAD

Arslan, Sabriye - Saban Güler, Meryem - Ayhan, Büşra. “Evaluation of the Relationship Between Internet Addiction, Eating Behavior, and Obesity-Related Measures Among University Students”. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine 9/3 (May 1, 2026): 744-753. https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1898008.

JAMA

1.Arslan S, Saban Güler M, Ayhan B. Evaluation of the relationship between internet addiction, eating behavior, and obesity-related measures among university students. J Health Sci Med / JHSM. 2026;9:744–753.

MLA

Arslan, Sabriye, et al. “Evaluation of the Relationship Between Internet Addiction, Eating Behavior, and Obesity-Related Measures Among University Students”. Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine, vol. 9, no. 3, May 2026, pp. 744-53, doi:10.32322/jhsm.1898008.

Vancouver

1.Sabriye Arslan, Meryem Saban Güler, Büşra Ayhan. Evaluation of the relationship between internet addiction, eating behavior, and obesity-related measures among university students. J Health Sci Med / JHSM. 2026 May 1;9(3):744-53. doi:10.32322/jhsm.1898008