Too much time spent on smartphones leads to obesity and a deadly disease – Xinhua

NEW YORK, July 27 (Xinhua) – According to a new study, smartphone addiction could lead to significant weight gain and the attack of life-threatening diseases.

According to Colombian researchers, the risk of obesity and other health problems, including heart disease, increases by 43% compared to young adults who use their smartphone five or more hours a day.

"Spending too much time in front of the smartphone facilitates sedentary behaviors and reduces the time of physical activity, which increases the risk of premature death, diabetes, heart disease, various types of cancer, osteo-articular discomfort and musculoskeletal symptoms, "said Mirary Mantilla-Morron. , specialist in pulmonary rehabilitation and cardiac vascularization at Simon Bolivar University (SBU) in Colombia.

The study involved 1,060 students, 700 women and 360 men aged 19 and 20, respectively, from the SBU Faculty of Health Sciences from June to December 2018.

The researchers found that students stuck to their smartphone "were twice as likely to drink more sugary drinks, fast food, sweets, snacks and have reduced physical activity."

Mantilla-Morron, who is also the principal author of the study, said "that it is important for the general population to know and be aware that while mobile technology is undoubtedly attractive for its multiple purposes, portability, comfort, access to countless services, information and sources of entertainment, it should also be used to improve healthy habits and behaviors. "

The potential link between technology and obesity is conducive to exploration since more than 1.9 billion adults in the world were overweight in 2016, including 650 million obese, according to the World Health Organization.

"We also determined that the time during which a person is exposed to the use of technologies, including the prolonged use of cell phones, is badociated with the development of obesity," he said. she adds.