Recent research has identified significant health risks associated with excessive screen time among children and young adults, with a study of over 1,000 participants in Denmark finding a strong link between prolonged electronic device use and increased risks of cardiometabolic diseases. Published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, the study demonstrates that higher screen time correlates with conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and insulin resistance, underscoring the urgency of addressing screen habits early to protect long-term heart and metabolic health.
The research, led by David Horner, M.D., PhD., from the Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood (COPSAC) at the University of Copenhagen, analyzed data from two groups of young participants and found that each additional hour of screen time was associated with an increase in cardiometabolic risk scores. This suggests that the cumulative effect of screen time could have meaningful implications for health, with the study also revealing that insufficient sleep exacerbated the relationship between screen time and cardiometabolic risk, highlighting sleep's critical role in mitigating these health risks. For more details on the study's methodology and findings, visit https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/JAHA.123.030123.
Amanda Marma Perak, M.D., M.S.CI., FAHA, chair of the American Heart Association’s Young Hearts Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Committee, emphasized the importance of modeling healthy screen use for children and teens, suggesting practical steps for families such as moving screen time earlier in the day and prioritizing sleep to help reduce potential health risks. The study's findings open new avenues for research into the biological impacts of screen time and its long-term effects on heart health, offering valuable insights for parents and healthcare providers. Additional resources on youth health guidelines can be found at https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/fitness/fitness-basics/aha-recs-for-physical-activity-in-adults.
