Study: Smartphones at 12 tied to worse health
A University of Pennsylvania–led analysis of 10,588 U.S. preteens in NIH’s Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study (2016–2022) finds that owning a smartphone at age 12 is associated with higher odds of depression (31%), obesity (40%), and insufficient sleep (62) compared with peers without smartphones. The results, to be published in Pediatrics, suggest the risks are specific to smartphones after accounting for other devices and come as roughly half of American children own a smartphone by age 11.
📌 Key Facts
- Sample: 10,588 youths from NIH’s ABCD Study (2016–2022).
- Odds increases linked to age-12 smartphone ownership: depression +31%, obesity +40%, insufficient sleep +62%.
- Findings are forthcoming in Pediatrics and models accounted for tablets and smartwatches.
📊 Relevant Data
74% of Black youth aged 8-18 own their own smartphone, compared to 70% of Hispanic/Latino youth and 65% of White youth.
The Common Sense Census: Media Use by Tweens and Teens, 2022 — Common Sense Media
The prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents is 24.8% for non-Hispanic Black, 26.2% for Hispanic, 16.6% for non-Hispanic White, and 13.5% for non-Hispanic Asian.
Childhood Obesity Facts — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The annual average prevalence of past-year major depressive episode among adolescents aged 12-17 from 2022-2024 is 13.5% for Non-Hispanic Black, 17.6% for Hispanic or Latino, and 19.2% for Non-Hispanic White.
Population Statistics Reports: Major Depressive Episode or Serious Thoughts of Suicide Among Adolescents Aged 12 to 17 — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
84% of Black high school students reported getting insufficient sleep (less than 8 hours per night), compared to 80% of female students and an overall rate of 77.9%.
FastStats: Sleep in High School Students — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Racial and ethnic disparities in childhood obesity may be influenced by factors such as socioeconomic status, access to healthy foods, and physical activity opportunities, with higher rates observed in communities with limited resources.
State of Obesity Report 2025: Better Policies for a Healthier America — Trust for America's Health