The relationship between Eating Disorders and Problematic Use of the Internet

Can maladaptive use of the Internet transform our perception of bodies and our relation to food? The purpose of this work is to examine the relationship between Eating Disorders and the problematic use of the Internet/social media. It provides a clinical overview of eating disorders, followed by an analysis of Problematic Internet Use (PIU) and it incorporates data of empirical evidence, exploring how compulsive Internet use, prolonged exposure to appearance-related media and digital social comparison relates to disordered eating patterns and body image dissatisfaction. Finally, it highlights the importance of preventive and psychoeducational strategies within digital environments, while reporting that further research needs to be conducted.