A new study published in the journal Pediatrics reveals tha t children who own smartphones by age 12 face increased risks of depression, obesity , and insufficient sleep. Conducted by researchers from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of California, Berkeley, and Columbia University, the study analyzed data from over 10,000 adolescents in the United States.

Dr. Ran Barzilay , the study's lead author and a child psychiatrist at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, emphasized the importance of considering the potential health impacts when deciding to give a child a smartphone . "We should view smartphones as a significant factor in teen health," Barzilay told CHOP News.

The study found that at age 12, smartphone ownership was associated with a 31% higher risk of

See Full Page