A recent Danish study, published in the journal of the American Heart Association, has revealed a strong link between the long hours children and teenagers spend in front of electronic screens and an increased risk of early heart disease and metabolic issues. Researchers measured a 'composite heart and metabolic score', which reflects the level of risk based on factors such as waist circumference, blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglycerides. The analyses showed that each additional hour of recreational screen time (watching, gaming, browsing) is associated with a significant increase in the risk score. A child who spends an extra three hours a day in front of a screen is at a risk a quarter to a half standard deviation higher compared to their peers. The risk also accumulates with more hours, which can lead to a noticeable shift in the health of an entire generation that persists into adulthood. The study also found that lack of sleep plays a key and dangerous role in this equation, as the association between screen use and the risk of heart and metabolic diseases was significantly stronger among young people who sleep fewer hours. In childhood, lack of sleep accounted for about 12% of this association, suggesting that screens harm health partly by 'stealing' sleep time. Using machine learning techniques, researchers were able to identify a 'metabolic fingerprint' in the participants' blood; a specific pattern of changes in metabolic products linked to long screen time. These findings come as data from the American Heart Association indicates that only 29% of American youth have good cardiovascular and metabolic health. The study was based on data from over 1,000 participants in two age groups (10 years and 18 years).
In light of these results, experts have offered several practical tips to mitigate these risks, including focusing on sleep quality and routine, setting screen-free times, especially during family meals and before bedtime, to create space for genuine communication and improve sleep quality. Adults should act as good role models by using screens moderately and putting them away during important times. It is also important to teach alternative recreational skills, encourage children to develop hobbies and activities that do not depend on screens, and train them to tolerate boredom, which is a stimulus for creativity. In conclusion, the study confirms that protecting the long-term health of children and adolescents requires a balanced approach that combines limiting voluntary screen time with ensuring they get enough good sleep, thereby creating a more aware and healthy generation.
