Obesity risk increases with at least 5 hours per day of smartphone use

Patients who used their smartphone for at least 5 hours a day had an increased risk for obesity, according to an abstract presented at the American College of Cardiology Latin America Conference.

“Although mobile technology is undoubtedly attractive for its multiple purposes, portability, comfort, access to countless services, information and entertainment sources, it should also be used to improve habits and healthy behaviors,” Mirary Mantilla-Morrón, a cardiac pulmonary and vascular rehabilitation specialist at the Health Sciences Faculty at the Simón Bolívar University in Barranquilla, Colombia, said in a press release. “Spending too much time in front of the smartphone facilitates sedentary behaviors, reduces the time of physical activity, which increases the risk of premature death, diabetes, heart disease, different types of cancer, osteoarticular discomfort and musculoskeletal symptoms.”

Researchers analyzed data from 1,060 participants, 700 of whom were women (mean age, 19 years) and 360 of whom were men (mean age, 20 years). Questionnaires were completed to collect information on smartphone use. BMI was calculated and then used to categorize participants as having grade 1 obesity, defined as BMI greater than 25 kg/m², or grade 2 obesity, defined as BMI greater than 30 kg/m².

Overweight was seen in 36.1% of men and 63.9% of women, whereas obesity was seen in 42.6% of men and 57.4% of women. When grouping participants with overweight and obesity together, the prevalence of excess weight was 30.2%

Patients who used their smartphone for at least 5 hours a day had an increased risk for obesity, according to an abstract presented at the American College of Cardiology Latin America Conference.

Source: Shutterstock

Of the participants who reported using their smartphone for at least 5 hours per day, 26% had overweight and 4.6% had obesity.

“The results of this study allow us to highlight one of the main causes of physical obesity, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease,” Mantilla-Morrón said in the press release. “We have also determined that the amount of time in which a person is exposed to the use of technologies — specifically prolonged cellphone use — is associated with the development of obesity.” – by Darlene Dobkowski

Reference:

Mantilla-Morrón M, et al. Abstract 52. Presented at: American College of Cardiology Latin America Conference; July 25-27, 2019; Cartagena, Colombia.

Disclosure: Cardiology Today could not confirm relevant financial disclosures at the time of publication.