Study: Prolonged screen time increases the risk of heart disease in children.

Arabian Sea Newspaper - Follow-ups

A recent study conducted in Denmark showed that children spending a long time in front of screens, whether on tablets, phones, or television, may increase the risk of heart disease and metabolic problems. According to the study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, "Children and young adults who spend long hours in front of screens and electronic devices may be more likely to develop heart disease and metabolic problems, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and insulin resistance." They also face a greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease or diabetes. Using data from groups of adolescents and young people aged 10 to 18 years (more than 1,000 adolescents) regarding their screen time and sleep habits, the researchers studied the relationship between screen time and what is called cardiometabolic risk factors. The analysis showed that each additional hour of screen time increases the risk of disease, and that the gap was greater among adolescents and young people aged 18 years compared to children aged 10 years. In addition, the risk is exacerbated by lack of sleep. "This means that a child who spends three hours a day in front of screens will be at a quarter to half a standard deviation more at risk compared to their peers," said David Horner, a researcher at the University of Copenhagen and the lead author of the study, in a statement. He warned that "if we double this risk across an entire group of children, we will see a significant shift in the risk of early cardiometabolic disease, which may persist into adulthood." It is worth noting that there is no consensus among researchers on the harmful effects of screens on children and adolescents, but the majority agree that younger children are more at risk than adults.