Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35468844›Full record

ArticleJournal of eating disorders2022

Online media exposure and weight and fitness management app use correlate with disordered eating symptoms: evidence from the mainland of China.

Lei Guo, Lian Gu, Yihua Peng, Yiming Gao, Li Mei, Qing Kang, Chen Chen, Yanran Hu, Wenyan Xu, Jue Chen

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of eating disorders, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Associations Between the Use of Fitness and Diet Tracking Technology and Disordered Eating Behaviour: A Systematic Review.European eating disorders review : the journal of the Eating Disorders Association · 2025
    Pooled it
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Lei Guo *Department of Clinical Psychology, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 600 South Wanping Road, Shanghai, 200030, People's Republic of China.
Lian Gu *Department of Clinical Psychology, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 600 South Wanping Road, Shanghai, 200030, People's Republic of China.
Yihua PengDepartment of Clinical Psychology, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 600 South Wanping Road, Shanghai, 200030, People's Republic of China.
Yiming GaoDepartment of Clinical Psychology, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 600 South Wanping Road, Shanghai, 200030, People's Republic of China.
Li MeiDepartment of Clinical Psychology, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 600 South Wanping Road, Shanghai, 200030, People's Republic of China.
Qing KangDepartment of Clinical Psychology, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 600 South Wanping Road, Shanghai, 200030, People's Republic of China.
Chen ChenDepartment of Clinical Psychology, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 600 South Wanping Road, Shanghai, 200030, People's Republic of China.
Yanran HuDepartment of Clinical Psychology, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 600 South Wanping Road, Shanghai, 200030, People's Republic of China.
Wenyan XuSchool of Social Development and Public Policy, Fudan University, No. 600 Guoquan Road, Shanghai, 200433, People's Republic of China. xuwenyan@fudan.edu.cn.
Jue ChenDepartment of Clinical Psychology, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No. 600 South Wanping Road, Shanghai, 200030, People's Republic of China. chenjue2088@163.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9924-2573

Funding

Clinical Science and Technology Innovation Project of Shanghai Hospital Development Center SHDC12019129National Natural Science Foundation of China 82071545Shanghai clinical research center for mental health 19MC1911100the grants from Shanghai Municipal Health Commission 2019ZB0201
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe relationship between online media exposure and disordered eating symptoms has been reported in western regions. Though the prevalence of eating disorders and access to the Internet increased substantially in recent years, relevant evidence is rare in mainland China. This study aims to evaluate the association between online media exposure or weight and fitness management app use and disordered eating symptoms in Chinese mainland young adults, and the mediation effect of disordered eating cognition.

methods353 Chinese mainland female and 142 male young adults completed online questionnaires consisting of demographic information, Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire 6.0 (EDE-Q 6.0), and items relating to online media exposure and weight and fitness management app use. Through correlation analysis, the relationship between online media exposure or weight and fitness management app use and disordered eating symptoms was examined, separately by sex. The mediation effect of disordered eating cognition on the relationship between online media exposure or weight and fitness management app use on disordered eating behaviors was investigated with two moderated mediation models.

resultsYoung female adults in the Chinese mainland presented higher disordered eating symptoms and were more engaged in online media and weight and fitness management app use than males. Online media exposure and weight and fitness management app use showed a significant correlation with disordered eating behaviors in males and females. Disordered eating cognition mediated the relationship between online media exposure or weight and fitness management app use and disordered eating behaviors. This effect was significantly higher in females.

conclusionOnline media exposure and weight and fitness management app use play a crucial role in the generation of disordered eating symptoms in Chinese mainland young adults, especially in females. The mediation analysis suggested the importance of prevention and intervention of disordered eating cognition. Monitoring and scientific guidance of online media are necessary.

Indexed as

Chinese mainlandDisordered eatingOnline mediaWeight and fitness management appYoung adults

Identifiers

PMID35468844
PMCPMC9036716

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.