High School Binge Eating Linked to Social Media
A 2025 study reveals significant binge eating rates among teens, often associated with social media and mental health.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Teens
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A 2025 study of 6,898 U.S. high school students found that 40.5 percent reported binge eating in the past month. The findings, published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, highlight a significant prevalence of frequent binge eating across diverse student groups.
Why it matters
Understanding these dietary trends is essential for parents, as the report links higher rates of binge eating to increased social media use and poor mental health outcomes like persistent sadness.
Overall, 17.2 percent of students reported binge eating on three or more days in the past 30 days. This behavior was more prevalent among Hispanic (20.5 percent), multiracial (19.6 percent), and Black students (18.7 percent) compared to their White (14.6 percent) and Middle Eastern/North African peers (9.9 percent).
The players
CDC
The federal agency responsible for national public health surveillance and monitoring adolescent risk behaviors.
The details
Researchers analyzed data from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey to identify patterns in adolescent eating habits. The study determined that binge eating occurred more frequently among students who reported high hourly social media usage. Additionally, the researchers found a statistical correlation between these eating patterns and broader mental health indicators such as persistent sadness or self-harm ideation.
Timeline
The data collection for this prevalence study took place throughout 2025.
The findings were published on October 15, 2026, in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
The Home Front
This study tracks the long-term trends monitored by the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which acts as the national benchmark for adolescent wellness. It places recent dietary findings within a broader context of shifting student health metrics observed by federal health officials.
Parents should prioritize open conversations about both screen time and mental health to help identify potential triggers for stress-related eating. If you have concerns about your teen's relationship with food, consider scheduling a consultation with a licensed pediatrician or mental health professional.
The takeaway
Adolescent binge eating is significantly correlated with both screen habits and mental health struggles. Families can support healthy development by tracking trends in mood and social media use and seeking professional guidance early if concerning eating patterns emerge.
Further reading
For more on monitoring adolescent behavioral health, see the Teens section.
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