Social Media Use and Food Addiction on Depression and Body Mass Index in University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background Social media use and food addiction have each been linked to depression and increased body mass index (BMI). University students, among the most active social media users, may be especially susceptible to these risks. Excessive social media use can contribute to depression through social comparison and isolation, while food addiction is associated with disordered eating, obesity, and depressive symptoms. Despite evidence for these individual relationships, few studies have examined their combined effects. This study aims to investigate the potential effects of social media use and food addiction on depression and body mass index (BMI) among university students. Methods This cross-sectional study, conducted in Elazığ, Turkey (Feb–Jul 2024), included 4,765 healthy university students. Data were collected via face-to-face surveys, assessing sociodemographics, social media use, the Modified Yale Food Addiction Scale version 2.0 (mYFAS 2.0), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). BMI was calculated from measured anthropometrics. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results Female students had higher depression scores, while individuals with severe food addiction had the highest BDI and BMI scores (p < 0.001). Significant associations were found between social media use, food addiction, depression, and BMI. Higher depression and food addiction scores were observed among users of certain platforms, particularly TikTok. Increased food consumption and snacking while using social media were significantly associated with greater odds of depression. A linear trend showed that higher food addiction levels were moderately correlated with increased depression and BMI (p < 0.001). Conclusions This study reveals a significant relationship between food addiction, social media use, depression, and BMI among university students. Higher food addiction levels were associated with increased depression and BMI, while specific social media platforms, such as TikTok and Facebook, were linked to adverse outcomes. In contrast, YouTube use appeared to have a protective effect. Gender and BMI also influenced depression risk. These findings highlight the need for integrated interventions promoting healthy eating and responsible social media use during the critical university years.