Serious health problems for children exposed to too much ‘screen time’
Doctor makes case that exposure to electronics needs to be curbed dramatically
We see it every day — a child in the checkout line mindlessly watches a cartoon video on a tablet while the parent unloads groceries onto the cashier’s belt; a 10-year-old promises to behave better in the department store if given their cell phone back; a group of children stay glued to the TV playing their video game without acknowledging anyone else in the room.
Children are exposed to more screen time than ever before.
Nowadays, children are far more dependent upon modern-day technology, and increasingly reliant upon the ease with which which they can access their gadgets and gizmos. While manufacturers don’t see a problem with this new behavior, what with the fact that it’s increased technology markets tenfold, doctors do, noting that it’s created a significant spike in recent years in child-age health issues.
Most vocal about this problem is Dr. Aric Sigman, a leading psychologist and child health expert in the “Archives of Disease in Childhood.” He argues that society is at a crossroads now, and that leaders need to implement major changes in order to curb a child’s dependency on modern-day technology and avoid the major health and developmental problems associated with this behavior.
The evidence
Children in Britain have access to an average of five different screens at home by the time they are 10 years old. This includes TVs, video game consoles, phones, laptops, tablets, and more. What’s more, by the time a child born today reaches the age of 7, he / she will have spent one full year of 24-hour days staring at these screens.
Shocking, yes, but even more disturbing is that this number will rise to three full days by the time he / she is 18, according Dr. Sigman. That’s because current research indicates British teens are exposed to six hours of screen time a day at home, while North American children manage close to eight hours.
The impact
Citing several different studies, Dr. Sigman is able to show a correlation between prolonged screen time and an increased risk of markers for heart disease, stroke, and diabetes, along with other biological effects that come from being sedentary rather than active. While this does include perhaps the most obvious effect — obesity — what’s not being noticed are effects like disruptions in hunger cues—children now go longer without eating their meals.
Dr. Sigman points out that viewing screen-based media is also physiologically distinct from other forms of sedentary behavior (e.g. – reading) and that screen time is beginning to be considered an independent risk factor due to the effect screen exposure has on the neurotransmitter dopamine. You see, dopamine is key in the ability for one to pay attention, and is produced as a result of “screen novelty,” according to Dr. Sigman. It’s also an important part of the brain’s reward system, and is implicated in addictive behavior.
“Screen ‘addiction’ is increasingly being used by physicians to describe the growing number of children engaging in screen activities in a dependent manner,” he says.
When it comes to the actual programs that children are using, there are new terms being developed, including “Facebook depression”, as reported by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Some of the symptoms associated with this effect include an increased risk of disengagement and vulnerability to victimization, poor social skills, and an inability to express empathy.
“Perhaps because screen time is not a dangerous substance or a visibly risky activity, it has eluded the scrutiny that other health issues attract,” Dr. Sigman explains.
Outlook
There are a number of countries out there already taking this risk seriously, most notably the U.S., Canada, and Australia. Europe, however, still has yet to address this issue: “To date, views of the British and European medical establishments on increasingly high levels of child screen time remain conspicuous by their absence,” he says.
Dr. Sigman says that there are some pretty simple steps to take that could help make a difference, including limiting screen time and delaying screen viewing until the age of 3. “Many questions remain regarding the precise nature of the association between screen time and adverse outcomes,” he says, before concluding: “The advice from a growing number of both researchers and medical associations and government departments elsewhere is becoming unequivocal: reduce screen time.” ■
Story via: medicalexpress.com
Advertisement
Learn more about Electronic Products Magazine
