Your risk of obesity is extremely high if you are spending five hours or more on your phone daily, according to a new study. This habit may even raise your risk of developing heart disease.
1, 060 students, around 19 and 20-years-old, participated in the study conducted by a team from the Simon Bolivar University in Colombia. After examining their patterns, researchers found those who spend more than five hours on their phones had a 43 per cent chance of becoming obese. The risk was higher for those who also consumed a lot of sugary drinks and junk food in addition to excessive smartphone use.
Too much time on your phone can cause you to adopt more sedentary behaviours, the study revealed. It could also make it less likely for you to exercise. This pattern could also raise your risk of developing serious health issues, as well as premature death.
"It is important for the general population to know and be aware that, despite being undoubtedly attractive for its multiple purposes, portability, comfort, access to countless services, information and entertainment sources, mobile technology should also be used to improve habits and healthy behaviours," study author Mirary Mantilla-Morron, told a news portal. Adding, "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 further explained: "We have also determined that the amount of time in which a person is exposed to the use of technologies -- specifically prolonged cell phone use -- is associated with the development of obesity."
While smartphones in today's world have become a necessity, using it for very long periods can be damaging to your health. "The best way out is to encourage yourself to reduce the duration of time being used on phones and other related gadgets at the same time, to indulge in physical activities like yoga or any other sports or exercise pattern, and by not becoming a couch potato," Rajesh Kapoor, a Gastrointestinal Surgeon in Noida, told a news portal.
For Achal Bhagat, a Senior Consultant Psychiatrist at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals in Delhi, tackling this issue requires us to adopt a more active lifestyle. "And if we are not able to build it to an adequate level, then it increases the chances of obesity and related health risk factors. Phone is one of the ways of exhibiting that we are not doing enough physical activities in our life," Bhagat told a news portal.
