Study links fitness apps to disordered eating and obsessive behaviour

February 24, 2025

Young adults who use diet and fitness apps regularly are more likely to develop negative habits related to food, exercise and body image, Flinders University researchers have found.

PhD candidate in clinical psychology, Isabella Anderberg, said while the mobile apps could benefit people by prompting them to exercise, their focus on dietary restriction and weight loss could lead to excessive behaviours — particularly for those with pre-existing concerns about their body image. abc