Investigating the Relationship Between Digital Addiction and Nutrition Among AFSÜ Students

A new scientific research project conducted by Afyonkarahisar Health Sciences University (AFSÜ) is preparing to deeply examine the complex relationship between university students' digital habits and their eating behaviors. Within the scope of this supported project coded TÜBİTAK 2209-A, the effects of young people's increasing digital technology use on their daily lives are being put under the microscope. Scientists aim to understand how smartphone and social media addiction, in particular, shape young people's eating and drinking routines. This comprehensive study aims to reveal the hidden correlations between the time students spend in digital environments and their nutritional choices. During the execution of the project, the health status, digital usage frequencies, and nutritional habits of the participants will be meticulously recorded.

Today, the incredibly increasing time spent in front of digital screens has significant and often negative effects on individuals' eating behaviors. Researchers are investigating how distracting digital environments alter meal times and how individuals gravitate towards consumption without realizing what they eat, meaning they deviate from the practice of 'mindful eating'. It is thought that young people who spend time in front of screens are more prone to unhealthy snacks because they cannot correctly read hunger and satiety signals. This situation constitutes a risk factor that can directly affect not only physical health but also the psychological well-being of young people. The data to be collected within the scope of the project will allow the objective measurement of the dimensions of digital addiction and the statistical proof of the damage on nutritional quality.

Another important focus of the study is ultra-processed foods, the consumption of which has increased to worrying levels in recent years. The easy accessibility of convenience foods and intense advertisements on digital platforms play a major role in leading students towards these unhealthy foods. In the scientific literature, it has been repeatedly proven that the consumption of ultra-processed foods dramatically increases the incidence of chronic diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and various cardiovascular disorders. In this context, the research will question how the stressful and active nature of university life pushes students towards consuming convenience foods. Determining how frequently participants consume such foods and how this habit relates to digital screen time will be one of the most critical outputs of the project.

The execution methodology of the project is based on the analysis of data obtained from students' daily lives using scientific methods. The data to be collected through surveys and various health measurements will reveal the multidimensional relationships between mindful eating, the degree of digital addiction, and the frequency of ultra-processed food consumption. In the light of these analyses, scientists hope to obtain valuable clues regarding how young people can become more conscious consumers in front of digital devices. The results to be obtained may pave the way for the formulation of public policies aimed at improving the health of not only university students but also the young population in general. Such detailed epidemiological studies also underline the importance of preventive medicine in reducing the future health expenditures of the society.

In conclusion, this TÜBİTAK project, initiated by AFSÜ researchers, has the potential to shed light on one of the greatest health crises of the modern age. Identifying the health risks that accompany the conveniences brought by technology is a great necessity for the younger generation, in particular, to step into a healthier adulthood. Solving the triangular relationship between digital addiction, eating awareness, and ultra-processed foods can be used in shaping healthy living campaigns at universities. Furthermore, the findings in this field are expected to be integrated into national health strategies that will cover wider audiences in the future. Such innovative and multidisciplinary academic studies, carried out in the light of science, represent one of our strongest defense mechanisms against current threats to public health.