Screen time and childhood obesity: A commentary on the evidence behind current guidelines

Abstract

It has been well-established that the use of technology that require one to be sedentary have been associated with obesity in youth. “Screen time,” a term that describes the number of sedentary hours spent in front of a screen, has been coined to quantify an individual’s usage of technology. The impact that screen time is having on obesity has become so apparent that national guidelines recommend a limit on the daily amount of screen time in youth. This article identifies the pertinent literature supporting the role of limiting screen time in youth on reducing obesity, explores why and how screen time contributes to obesity, and lastly, highlights current guidelines that address this issue.