No proof screen time is toxic, but ill effects remain: Study

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No proof screen time is toxic, but ill effects remain: Study

The review of evidence, however, found associations between higher screen use and obesity and depression.

By Asma Ali Zain

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Published: Sat 19 Jan 2019, 9:29 PM

Last updated: Sun 20 Jan 2019, 9:44 PM

Parents have been told to worry less about their children's use of devices as there is no concrete evidence that spending time in front of screens is "toxic".
A review of evidence published in the BMJ Open Medical Journal recently followed a debate around whether youngsters' use of devices should be restricted. Most of the evidence in the review was based on television screen time, but it also included the use of other screens, such as phones and computers.
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) produced a guide for under-18s and said there was "no good evidence" that spending time in front of a screen is toxic to health, as it is sometimes claimed.
The review of evidence, however, found associations between higher screen use and obesity and depression. The college also concluded that it was not clear from the evidence if higher screen use was causing these problems or if people with these issues were more likely to spend more time on screens.
Dr Max Davie, officer for health promotion at the RCPCH, told BBC News that phones, computers and tablets were a "great way to explore the world", but parents were often made to feel that there was something "indefinably wrong" about them.
He said: "We want to cut through that and say 'if you're doing okay and you've answered these questions of yourselves and you're happy, get on and live your life and stop worrying'.
"But if there are problems and you're having difficulties, screen time can be a contributing factor."
Dr Rajeev Tomar, consultant paediatrician at King's College Hospital London in the UAE, which recently opened its 100-bed hospital in Dubai Hills, said:
"The recent study does not say that screen time does not have an impact, but that there isn't enough scientific evidence to clearly state that screen time causes the reported effects."
"This study (a review of systematic reviews) looks at all the published literature on the effects of screen time on children and young people and concludes that the reported findings and evidence are inconsistent. As a result, the professional guidelines have been criticised as non-evidenced-based, with systematic reviews showing inconsistent findings," he said.
He also said this may in part be due to failing to separate screen time from other non-screen-related sedentary behaviours that are characterised by low physical movement and energy expenditure. The inconsistency was also attributed to not being able to separate the sedentary elements of screen time from the content watched on screens.
"However, while there has been conflicting evidence presented about this topic and while both sides of the argument should be considered, the growing concerns and studies about the negative impacts of screen time on children and young people's health should not go unnoticed," said Dr Tomar.
Mental health and well-being are also the subject of a number of reviews.
"There are moderately strong insights associating screen time with depression symptoms, although the scientific evidence associating social media screen time and depression is weak," he said.
"It is important to note that the weak evidence reported largely relates to a lack of literature rather than weak association," added Dr Tomar. In today's world, we, including children and young adults, are all exposed to significant amounts of screen time.
"Even the education sector is integrating digital devices into children and young people's schoolwork and curriculum. This has given rise to growing concerns about the impact of screens on their health," said the doctor.
Should earlier studies be debunked? "It is not a matter of completely disregarding these studies, but rather understanding that each study is unique in the way that it tests screen time and the circumstances it tests it under," he said.
Another factor that should be taken into consideration is that even though there haven't been studies showing scientific evidence of screen time effects, it does not rule out the fact that they may be harmful, said the doctor.
asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com


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