What is the average number of time you spend on your phone per day? There is an option to check the same by looking under the ‘screen time tab’ on your phone settings.
A number of research studies have explored this connection and have found some interesting results.
One study published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics found that adolescents who spent more time on their phones had a higher risk of being overweight or obese.
The study analyzed data from over 44,000 adolescents and found that those who spent more than 5 hours per day on their phones had a 71% higher risk of being overweight or obese compared to those who spent less than 1 hour per day on their phones.
What might be the connection between cellphone use and obesity?
One possibility is that excessive cellphone use may lead to a sedentary lifestyle, which can contribute to weight gain.
Cellphone use may also disrupt sleep patterns, which can affect appetite and metabolism.
In addition, the use of social media and other apps on phones may expose individuals to more food advertisements and unhealthy food choices.
It's important to note that these studies do not prove that cellphone use directly causes obesity, but rather that there is an association between the two.
However, here are some simple tips that we all know, but rarely implement.
While you are even reading this newsletter, pick any one tip and implement it for the rest of your week:
Set limits: Use the screen time limits feature on your phone or other devices to set limits on the amount of time you spend on your phone. You can also use apps or tools like Freedom or Forest to help you stay on track.
Take breaks: Set aside specific times during the day when you step away from your phone and engage in other activities. For me, walks with my dog are phone free.
Reduce notifications: Turn off unnecessary notifications or set them to "do not disturb" mode to reduce distractions and interruptions. All my notifications except calls are turned off.
Use airplane mode: Consider using airplane mode when you don't need to be connected to the internet, such as when you're sleeping or at a meeting.
Keep your phone out of reach: Keep your phone out of easy reach when you're not using it, so you have to make a conscious effort to pick it up. I keep mine in my desk drawer when I am working.
Trust this helps,