Study reveals health risks of excessive screen time in teens | The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentIndependentNext articleIndependent Bulletin homepageSocial PartnerWe are 8 logo (opens in a new tab)AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleJulia MustoThursday 07 August 2025 00:58 BSTKids & screen timeExcessive screen time in children and young adults significantly increases the risk of heart-related health conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and insulin resistance.Danish researchers found that this link is particularly strong in individuals who experience reduced sleep, suggesting screen use may be displacing crucial sleep time.The study, involving over 1,000 Danish youths, revealed that each additional hour of screen time daily worsened cardiometabolic risk, with three extra hours leading to a notable increase.Machine learning identified a 'screen-time fingerprint' in blood samples, indicating biological changes that could signal long-term heart health risks from early screen habits.Experts recommend gradually reducing screen time, particularly by shifting screen use earlier in the day and prioritizing earlier and longer sleep, to mitigate these health risks.In fullSpending too much time on screens could hurt your teen’s heart healthThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in