Children who spend prolonged periods of time using technology are more prone to obesity, a new study suggests.
A group of child-health specialists have found “a strong link” between rising child obesity levels and frequent exposure to social media.
They are warning parents to limit their children’s screen time to 90 minutes a day - and then only if the child is older than 4.
“Moreover, paediatricians should inform parents about the general risk that mass media use poses to their children’s cognitive and physical development,” advises lead author DrAdamos Hadjipanayis.
By the time a child has reached the age of 9, researchers found, they are watching TV for more than seven hours daily and spending much of the rest of their time engaging in other forms of digital media.
Researchers believe this has contributed to the childhood obesity epidemic in Europe.
They also found that engaging in media late at night can be hugely disruptive to young people’s sleeping patterns, which can put them at higher risk of obesity, according to the study, published in the journal Acta Paediatrica.
In addition to banning TVs from children’s bedrooms, the study’s authors advise parents to lead by example and reduce their own screen time.