ArticleBMC nutrition2026
Assessment of association between problematic internet use and overweight and obesity among in school adolescents in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Article in BMC nutrition, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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Abstract
backgroundOverweight and obesity among adolescents is one of the most serious public health concerns worldwide in the 21st century. Problematic internet use (PIU) is associated with physical inactivity, sedentary behavior, disrupted sleep, and poor dietary habits, which can contribute to overweight/obesity and adversely affect mental wellbeing among adolescents. Several epidemiological studies, have explored the association between problematic internet use and overweight/obesity and reported inconsistent findings. The majority of the studies in this regard were from developed nations and there are limited studies from developing countries including Ethiopia.
objectivesThe study is aimed to assess the association between problematic internet use and overweight and obesity among secondary school adolescents in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
methodsA school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescents aged 13–19 in public and private secondary schools in Addis Ababa from March to June 2025. A total of 501 adolescents were selected using a three-stage random sampling technique. Problematic internet use was assessed using the validated Amharic version of the Internet Addiction Test (IAT-20). Body Mass Index (BMI) for age Z-score was compared to WHO 2007 growth reference standards using WHO Anthro plus version 3.2.2 software. Data were entered and cleaned using epi data version 3.1 and all statistical tests were done using SPSS 20 software.
resultsThe prevalence of overweight, obesity, and combined overweight/obesity was 16.6%, 4.2%, and 20.8%, respectively. The overall prevalence of PIU was 56.3%. After adjusting for confounders, adolescents with mild (AOR = 8.84; 95%CI: 2.99–26.10), moderate (AOR = 8.65; 95%CI: 2.81–26.62), and severe (AOR = 3.97; 95%CI: 1.36–11.57) PIU had significantly higher odds of overweight/obesity compared to those with normal internet use. Skipping breakfast, low physical activity, and high sedentary time were also significant independent risk factors. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: The study reveals a high prevalence of PIU and a strong, graded association between PIU severity and overweight/obesity among in-school adolescents in Addis Ababa. Parents should encourage their children for managing their children’s internet use and promoting healthier lifestyles at home.
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