Dec. 1 (UPI) -- A new study by the American Academy of Pediatrics finds preteens who own smartphones and use them regularly are at greater risk of depression, obesity and insufficient sleep.
The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, to be published in the January edition of the journal Pediatrics, looked at more than 10,000 early adolescents. Researchers compared those who received a smartphone before they were 12 years old and those who received their first phone later, as teenagers.
For those who received smartphones as children or preteens, 31% were at greater odds than their peers to suffer from depression. They were also 40% more likely to struggle with obesity and 62% more likely to lack sleep.
"Given our findings, it is evident that a concrete framework is needed to advise on childhood and early adolescent smartphone ownership to support the healthier development of youth," according to researchers.
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