This archive report was first published on 26 July 2019.
Excessive smartphone use has been linked to a range of health risks, including obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, according to a recent study.
Researchers at Simon Bolivar University in Colombia found that students who spent at least five hours a day on their devices were 43% more likely to be obese and twice as prone to habits that raise the risk of cardiovascular disease.
The study, which involved over 1,000 students, also found that those who spent more than five hours on their devices were more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors such as gorging on fast food, sweets, and snacks, and not getting enough exercise.
Lead author Dr. Mirary Mantilla-Morron, a physiotherapist at Simon Bolivar University, warned that excessive smartphone use can lead to a range of health problems, including painful conditions such as arthritis.
"Spending too much time in front of the smartphone facilitates sedentary behaviors, reduces the time of physical activity, which increases the risk of premature death, diabetes, heart disease, different types of cancer, osteoarticular discomfort and musculoskeletal symptoms," Dr. Mantilla-Morron said.
The study's findings were presented at a meeting of the American College of Cardiology in Cartagena, Colombia, in 2019.
