Disease Risk Rises with Each Additional Hour of Screen Time
Lack of Sleep Further Increases the Risk
Although an Observational Study, the Warning Signs Are Clear
Recent research has found that screen time?the amount of time spent looking at smart devices or computer screens?can negatively impact not only adolescents' mental health but also their heart and metabolic health. The risks become even greater when combined with lack of sleep.
A study has found that the risk of heart disease increases as screen time increases. Photo unrelated to the article. Pixabay
On August 6 (local time), CBS in the United States reported that excessive screen time among children and adolescents can increase the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and insulin resistance.
According to a study conducted by the University of Copenhagen in Denmark and recently published in the journal of the American Heart Association, the more time adolescents spend on digital devices such as smartphones, TVs, and gaming consoles, the higher their risk for heart health issues.
Disease risk increases with each additional hour of screen time
The study involved over 1,000 participants aged 10 and 18 in Denmark, and analyzed individual disease risk as standard deviations from the average. The results showed that for every additional hour of device use, 10-year-old children experienced a 0.08 standard deviation increase in disease risk, while 18-year-old adolescents saw a 0.13 standard deviation increase. The researchers explained, "Although the change per hour may seem small, when accumulated over several hours, it can have a significant impact on health." According to the study, the average daily screen time for 18-year-olds was about 6 hours, while for 10-year-olds it was about 3 hours.
Lack of sleep further increases the risk
A study has found that sleep deprivation increases risks. Photo is unrelated to the article content. Pixabay
Sleep also played an important role as a variable. When sleep duration was short or bedtime was late, the negative association between screen time and heart disease became even stronger. The researchers analyzed that screen time encroaches on sleep time, thereby having a harmful effect on health. In other words, screen time "steals" time from sleep.
David Houner, the lead researcher, emphasized, "It is important to develop habits of managing screen time and maintaining balance in daily life from an early age," adding, "Reducing device use can help protect long-term heart and metabolic health."
Although an observational study, the warning signs are clear
However, this study is observational, meaning it does not directly prove causality, and screen time was measured through self-reporting, so there may be discrepancies from actual usage.
Nevertheless, this research is being seen as a warning sign that adolescents' screen time is closely linked not only to mental health issues but also to physical health. Since 2023, the U.S. Public Health Service has recommended the creation of "tech-free zones," and currently, more than half of U.S. states have enacted laws restricting or banning cell phone use in schools.
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