Letting children scroll on phones during mealtimes or eat in front of the TV can lead to obesity, new research reveals.
A study of 735 primary school children found that those who regularly used screens during breakfast, lunch, or dinner were 15 percent more likely to be overweight. Presented at the European Congress on Obesity in Venice, this research adds to the growing evidence about the health risks associated with young children using smartphones.
Experts urge parents to make dinner tables phone-free zones to help children develop mindful eating habits. Dr Ana Duarte from the University of Minho in Portugal, who led the study, explained, "When children are eating while watching TV or using a mobile phone, they don't realise when they're full and continue eating just because they're distracted."
The study involved 735 children aged six to ten, asking them and their parents about their meals and screen use in the last 24 hours. Even after adjusting for social and economic factors, the findings showed that children who used screens at mealtimes were 15 percent more likely to be overweight. NHS figures indicate that nearly one in four children are obese by the time they finish primary school at age 11. Additionally, Ofcom data shows that 91 percent of children in the UK own a smartphone by age 11, with eight-year-olds typically spending two hours and 45 minutes online daily, increasing to over four hours by the start of secondary school.
