Adolescent Eating Disorder Risk and the Online World

Jennifer S Saul; Rachel F Rodgers

doi:10.1016/j.chc.2017.11.011

Adolescent Eating Disorder Risk and the Online World

Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2018 Apr;27(2):221-228. doi: 10.1016/j.chc.2017.11.011. Epub 2018 Feb 2.

Authors

Jennifer S Saul¹, Rachel F Rodgers²

Affiliations

¹ Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Consulting, LLC 2001 S Central Avenue, Marshfield, Suite A, WI 54449, USA. Electronic address: saul.jenna@gmail.com.
² Department of Applied Psychology, Northeastern University, 404 iNV, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

PMID: 29502748
DOI: 10.1016/j.chc.2017.11.011

Abstract

The proliferation of social media and rapid increase in the use of the Internet by adolescents generates new dynamics and new risks for the development and maintenance of eating disorders. Here, the authors review different types of online content and how they are relevant to eating disorders within different theoretic frameworks, before examining the empirical evidence for the risks posed by online content in the development and maintenance of eating disorders. They describe pro-eating disorder content specifically and examine the research related to it, before considering its implications, and considering directions for future research, and prevention and intervention strategies.

Keywords: Body image; Eating disorders; Internet; Online.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adolescent Behavior / psychology*
Body Image / psychology*
Feeding and Eating Disorders / psychology*
Feeding and Eating Disorders / rehabilitation
Humans
Internet*