Excessive Screen Time Raises Heart Disease Risk \u2014 Study \u2022 Channels Television
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Children who spend too much time in front of screens, whether phones or TVs, have an increased risk of heart and metabolic disease, according to a Danish study published Wednesday.<\/strong><\/p>\n The study tracked the screen consumption and sleep habits of more than 1,000 10-year and 18-year-olds, with researchers examining the relationship between screen time and cardiometabolic risk factors.<\/p>\n \u201cChildren and young adults who spend excessive hours glued to screens and electronic devices may have higher risks for cardiometabolic diseases, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and insulin resistance,\u201d said the study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.<\/p>\n Subsequently they face a higher risk of developing cardiovascular diseases or diabetes, the researchers found.<\/p>\n READ ALSO:\u00a0Heart Disease: Medical Experts Harp On Regular Checkups To Avoid Risk<\/strong><\/p>\n The analysis revealed that each additional hour of daily screen time increases the risk of disease.<\/p>\n \u201cThis means a child with three extra hours of screen time a day would have roughly a quarter to half a standard-deviation higher risk than their peers,\u201d lead author David Horner, a researcher at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, said in a statement.<\/p>\n \u201cMultiply that across a whole population of children, and you\u2019re looking at a meaningful shift in early cardiometabolic risk that could carry into adulthood,\u201d Horner added.<\/p>\n Researchers are divided on the potential harmful effects of screens on children and adolescents, but the majority agree that younger populations are more at risk compared to adults.<\/p>\n