Screentime Impact

A national survey finds that Americans of all ages are spending more time sitting. Overall, people reported sitting a lot. For instance, close to two-thirds of children and teens said they sat at least two hours a day watching television or videos. The data also showed that computer use outside of school or work has been increasing across all ages. For adults and teens, the estimated total time sitting increased by nearly one hour a day between 2007 and 2016. That means teens now sit more than eight hours a day. Sitting too much — especially when watching television, phones or other screens — can be bad for your health, research suggests. It has been linked to diseases such as diabetes and cancer. It also has been tied to an increased risk of mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression.
Yang, L. et al. (2019, April 23). Trends in sedentary behavior among the US population, 2001-2016. Journal of the American Medical Association, 321, 1587.