This device is causing obesity in children, parents should do this immediately

In today’s time, mobiles, tablets and TV have become a part of children’s everyday life. Instead of playing, many children now spend hours playing games or watching videos.

Dr. Narendra Jha, Pediatrician at Max Super Specialty Hospital, Vaishali, says that the problem of screen-time obesity is increasing rapidly in children. Earlier this problem was seen only in big cities, but now children in small towns and villages have also started falling victim to it.

How does mobile cause obesity?

Experts say that sitting in front of the screen for a long time not only reduces physical activity but also changes the way the body works. When children remain sitting for many hours, their muscles work less. Due to this the body is not able to use glucose i.e. sugar properly.
If this happens continuously, there can be problems like gradual weight gain in children, risk of diabetes in adolescence, and fatty liver.

Digital content and bad eating habits

Children often eat snacks without thinking while watching the screen. While playing games or watching videos, they like sweet, fried or salty things, because they give an instant feeling of ‘comfort’. Studies have found that screen time also reduces the brain’s ability to tell the body that it is full. Due to this, children start eating more than required.

Lack of sleep is also a reason

The habit of looking at the phone till late at night also causes harm. Blue light emitted from screens reduces the hormone called melatonin, which is necessary for sleep. Due to poor sleep, hormones like ghrelin and leptin get disturbed, and these hormones signal hunger and fullness. As a result, children feel more hungry and gain weight.

The problem of ‘social jet lag’

When a child looks at the phone till late night, his natural sleep time gets disturbed. One also has to get up early in the morning, due to which the biological clock of the body gets disturbed. This can slow down metabolism and increase cortisol, which can cause fat to accumulate around the abdomen.

What are the solutions?

Experts do not recommend turning off the screen completely, but talk about balanced use. For this, it is important to make a fixed time for screen time at home. Encourage children to play outside or do physical activities for a while every day. Try not to have TV or mobile in children’s bedroom. Replace snacks with healthy options—fruits, nuts, or light home-cooked meals. Interrupt active screen-time, such as stretching every 20–30 minutes, taking short walks, or using apps that encourage children to move.