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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Lifestyle
Julia Musto

Study reveals health risks of excessive screen time in teens

  • Excessive screen time in children and young adults significantly increases the risk of heart-related health conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and insulin resistance.
  • Danish researchers found that this link is particularly strong in individuals who experience reduced sleep, suggesting screen use may be displacing crucial sleep time.
  • The study, involving over 1,000 Danish youths, revealed that each additional hour of screen time daily worsened cardiometabolic risk, with three extra hours leading to a notable increase.
  • Machine learning identified a 'screen-time fingerprint' in blood samples, indicating biological changes that could signal long-term heart health risks from early screen habits.
  • Experts recommend gradually reducing screen time, particularly by shifting screen use earlier in the day and prioritizing earlier and longer sleep, to mitigate these health risks.

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