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Children who surf smartphones before bedtime are prone to high BMI
Posted on: 08/Dec/2017 2:41:41 PM
Parents out there! You got to check this out! Do you allow your child to surf through the smartphone or play a mobile game right before their bedtime? You got to know that allowing your children to do so will put them at high risk of increased body mass index, says a recent study.
Technology vs sleep
The study was conducted by Penn State College of Medicine Researchers. The study involved surveying parents about the gadget usage and sleep patterns of their children. It identified that children who use technology and gadgets right before their bedtime are likely to have poorer sleep, less sleep, feel fatigue when they wake up, and those who are used to surfing mobile phones or watching TV before bedtime are prone to higher body mass index.
There is solid association between the use of technology before bedtime, and sleep pattern and BMI. Using technology is also likely to put you fatigue in the morning which again serves as a reason for higher BMI, thus forming a loop.
Consolidated list from 234 children of 8 to 17 years
Sound sleep is very crucial for the child’s development. The lead researcher of the study was avid about focusing on the screen time spent before bedtime and the sleep patterns of children, and different other health aspects. Parents of over 234 children aging between 8 and 17 were enquired about the sleep patterns and technology habits of their children.
The parents submitted reports on technology habits, sleep habits, nutrition and other activities of their children. The parents also mentioned their children’s kind of technology habit – whether they are used to playing video games, or surf smartphone, or use computers, or watch TV, or others.
Poor sleep quality and fatigue morning hours
According to the research results, it was found that there is concrete association between BMI and use of technology. Children who largely use technology during bedtime will be prone to get lesser nighttime sleep, and they will be found too tired when they wake up the next day. This contributes to the risk of higher BMI.
TV and video games lessen sleep by 30, smartphones by an hour
Those children who spend on video games or TV had 30 minutes lesser sleep compared to others who did not indulge in such activities. On the other hand, children who surfed smartphones or computer before going to bed had an hour of lesser sleep than their counterparts who never had such habits.
