Confirming earlier concerns, a new study shows that children who spend more time on video games and streaming are less likely to follow the Mediterranean diet, reinforcing the importance of managing screen time. Study: Media Usage and Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in Children. Image Credit: Pressmaster / Shutterstock.
com A recent study published in the journal Nutrients explores how different forms of media usage among children were linked to poorer eating patterns, specifically adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD). The health impact of screen time on children Over the past several years, digital media use has risen exponentially, particularly among children and adolescents who are exposed to multiple types and forms of digital content across many different devices and platforms. Increased exposure to digital media, including video games, streaming platforms, and social media, can negatively impact health, academic performance, and cognitive and emotional skills.
Excessive screen time is linked to shorter sleep durations and poorer sleep quality due to blue light disrupting melatonin production. Screen time in children has been negatively associated with unhealthy eating habits, including irregular or skipped meals and the mindless consumption of junk foods and beverages that are high in energy but have low nutritious value. Various factors are involved in this association, including the child’s attraction to unhealthy foods due to frequently seeing advertisements.