#Screen time in kids creates measurable changes in blood linked to future heart disease, study shows.
A new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association has revealed that greater recreational screen time in children and teens is linked to increased risk of cardiometabolic issues such as high blood pressure, insulin resistance, and elevated cholesterol.
Drawing from two long-term studies in Denmark, researchers found that even an extra hour of screen time per day was associated with a measurable increase in health risks.
Among adolescents, average screen use reached over six hours daily — raising concerns that prolonged exposure to screens may be silently shaping long-term heart health from an early age.
Sleep emerged as a key factor in the study, both intensifying and partially explaining the connection between screen time and health risks. Children who slept less or went to bed later showed even higher cardiometabolic risk levels tied to screen use.
The study also identified a distinctive "screen-time fingerprint" in the blood—a metabolic signature linked to future cardiovascular disease. Experts urge parents to model balanced screen habits and shift screen time earlier in the day to protect sleep quality.
The findings underscore the need to treat screen time as a critical lifestyle factor, alongside diet and physical activity, in preventive health for the next generation.
Source: “Screen Time Is Associated With Cardiometabolic and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Childhood and Adolescence” by David Horner et al., 6 August 2025, Journal of the American Heart Association.