The Relationship Between Obesity and Internet Addiction in University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between obesity and internet addiction in first-year university students (aged 18-25 years). Design The study was designed using a cross-sectional analytic model. Setting Data collection took place at Dokuz Eylul University, involving a diverse group of first-year students from different faculties. Subjects The study population comprised 12,365 students, with 2890 individuals selected using cluster sampling. Measures Internet addiction was evaluated using the Online Cognition Scale (OCS). Data on obesity-related variables and demographic details were collected through a questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, chi-square analysis, t test, and ANOVA were applied for statistical evaluation. Results The study included 2105 participants, with 43.8% males and 56.2% females. A significant positive correlation was found between body mass index (BMI) and OCS scores ( P = .000), indicating a higher prevalence of internet addiction among individuals with higher BMI. Males had higher mean OCS scores (91.19 ± 35.14) than females (80.21 ± 30.51) ( P = .00). Overweight and obese individuals exhibited higher scores on OCS sub-dimensions ( P < .005). Notably, individuals with a BMI over 25 were categorized as overweight, and those with a BMI over 30 were classified as obese. Conclusions The findings demonstrate a noteworthy relationship between internet addiction and obesity among university students. The study emphasizes the necessity of increased attention to this issue in Turkey for the implementation of effective interventions and preventive measures.