Is faster internet making us fatter?

A "no internet" diet could benefit more than just the dopamine receptors. Australian scientists have suggested that internet speed might be linked to obesity.

Researchers from Monash and Melbourne Universities and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology have examined the peculiar connection between high-speed internet and obesity.

Obesity remains a significant public health concern globally, with the rates continuing to rise in many developed countries. Australia is no exception.

According to data from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the country ranked 10th with highest proportion of overweight or obese people aged 15+ among 21 OECD member countries in 2022.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare indicates that 66% of adults aged 18 and over were living with overweight or obesity.

The researchers created a dataset that maps how quickly the National Broadband Network (NBN), Australia's high-speed internet infrastructure, was rolled out and adopted across different regions in the country.

The NBN network was rolled out gradually and is expected to provide a minimum speed of 25 Mbit/s and a maximum of 1000 Mbit/s, a significant improvement over existing fiber connections. All this makes it a good case study, the researchers claim.

Researchers compared the data to Australia's household, income, and labor dynamics (HILDA) survey to see how internet adoption correlates with obesity rates.

The survey keeps a finger on the pulse of Australian society by capturing insights into various aspects of Australians' lives, including health, income, and employment. The study used survey data collected over the period 2006 to 2019.

The key findings showed that as internet users gained access to high-speed internet through the expanded NBN network, there was an associated increase in obesity rates in the area.

A research paper published on ScienceDirect states that a 1% increase in the NBN adoption rate leads to a 1.57 increase in body mass index (BMI) measurements. This trend was especially noticeable among young adults and men compared to other groups.

Low levels of physical activity might explain the correlation between fast internet and higher body weight. Extended time spent in front of screens and not doing enough exercise contribute to weight gain and higher obesity levels.