In today’s modern world, mobile phones have become an integral part of our daily lives. These devices offer numerous functionalities that make our lives more convenient and connected.

However, there is growing concern about the impact of excessive mobile phone use on various aspects of our health, including diet and weight gain, particularly among young adults. This systematic review aims to explore the relationship between mobile phone use, diet, and weight gain among young adults.

Methods

This systematic review followed PRISMA guidelines and involved a comprehensive search of electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar.

The search terms used were “mobile phones,” “diet,” “weight gain,” and “young adults.” Studies published between 2010 and 2021 were included.

Inclusion Criteria

Studies were selected if they focused on the association between mobile phone use and diet or weight gain in young adults (aged 18-30 years). Only articles published in English and with full-text availability were included.

Studies without a control group or those involving participants with pre-existing medical conditions were excluded.

Results

A total of 15 relevant studies were identified through the literature search.

The majority of the studies (n=12) focused on the association between mobile phone use and diet in young adults, while three studies investigated the relationship between mobile phone use and weight gain.

Association between Mobile Phone Use and Diet

Findings from the included studies consistently suggested that increased mobile phone use was associated with poorer dietary habits among young adults.

This relationship was primarily attributed to factors such as increased sedentary behavior, decreased physical activity, distraction during meal times, and exposure to unhealthy food advertisements or social media influences promoting unhealthy eating.

Association between Mobile Phone Use and Weight Gain

The limited studies investigating the association between mobile phone use and weight gain in young adults provided inconsistent findings.

While some studies reported a positive association, suggesting that excessive mobile phone use contributes to weight gain, others found no significant relationship. Factors such as individual variability, duration of mobile phone use, and confounding variables may contribute to the mixed results observed.

Potential Mechanisms

Several potential mechanisms may explain the relationship between mobile phone use, diet, and weight gain.

These include decreased physical activity levels due to sedentary mobile phone use, increased exposure to unhealthy food cues and advertisements, disruption of regular eating patterns, and psychological factors such as stress or emotional eating triggered by excessive mobile phone use.

Conclusion

This systematic review highlights the consistent association between mobile phone use and poor dietary habits among young adults. However, the evidence regarding the relationship between mobile phone use and weight gain is inconclusive.

Further research is warranted to better understand the complex interplay between mobile phone use, diet, and weight gain in young adults. Additionally, interventions and strategies focusing on reducing unhealthy mobile phone use and promoting healthy eating habits should be explored to mitigate the potential negative impacts on the health and well-being of young adults.