Study links Facebook use and eating disorders among teen girls

By Staff Writer

A new study reveals that girls who use Facebook are more likely to have low self-esteem and develop eating disorders than those who do not use the social networking website.

According to The Jerusalem Post, researchers from the University of Haifa studied the extracurricular behaviors and self-image perceptions among 248 adolescent girls. The participants were between the ages of 12 and 18.

They found that Facebook activity was directly associated with the number of eating problems, such as anorexia, bulimia, dissatisfaction with their bodies and pursuit of weight-loss diets. The study's authors concluded that Facebook promotes a single-minded focus which causes many girls to obsess over their looks and habits, the news provider reported.

Although a girl's exposure to fashion and popular music also influenced their eating behavior, the connection was not as prevalent as Facebook use. A medical professional told the media outlet that many girls spend time on the Internet to avoid going out into society and to hide how they look.

Adolescents who suffer from low self-esteem may benefit from wilderness therapy programs, which aim to provide help for troubled teens.