What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to investigate the relationship between problematic internet use and overweight/obesity in adolescents.

March 8, 2026Open Access

Assessment of association between problematic internet use and overweight and obesity among in school adolescents in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Puntos clave

The aim is to investigate the relationship between problematic internet use and overweight/obesity in adolescents.
Conducted a school-based cross-sectional study among adolescents aged 13-19 in Addis Ababa.
Used a three-stage random sampling technique to select 501 participants.
Assessed problematic internet use with the Amharic version of the Internet Addiction Test.
Calculated Body Mass Index using WHO standards via Anthro plus software.
Analyzed data using SPSS 20 and Epi Data software.
Prevalence of overweight was 16.6%, obesity was 4.2%, and combined overweight/obesity was 20.8%.
56.3% of participants exhibited problematic internet use.
Higher severity of PIU linked to increased odds of overweight/obesity, with adjusted odds ratios showing significant associations.
Significant risk factors included skipping breakfast, low physical activity, and high sedentary time.

Resumen

Overweight 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. The study is aimed to assess the association between problematic internet use and overweight and obesity among secondary school adolescents in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A 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. The 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. 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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