Screen Time For Young Kids Linked To Risk For Developmental Delays
New research found that as 1-year-olds spend more time in front of screens, the potential risk of later developmental delays rises, particularly when it comes to communication and problem-solving skills. Also in the news: "Barbie botox," a chicken-strip recall, sleep habits, and more.
The Washington Post:
Early-Childhood Screen Time Linked To Developmental Delays In Study
For 1-year-olds, spending two or more hours a day in front of screens — for television, video, mobile phones or other digital devices — may increase their chances of experiencing developmental delays in subsequent years, according to research published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics. Based on data on 7,097 children, the study found that as screen time increased, so did the likelihood of developmental delays, primarily in communication and problem-solving skills. (Searing, 9/4)
In other public health news —
Reuters:
'Barbie Botox' Goes Viral But Doctors Inject Caution
The viral trend of "Barbie Botox" that has women as young as in their 20s rush for toxin-based procedures to mimic the looks of the movie's lead actress Margot Robbie may lead to resistance among them and hinder medical use in future, doctors cautioned. The procedure, also known as "Trap Tox", has been widely used by doctors to inject a class of drugs known as botulinum toxins, such as Botox, into the trapezius muscles of the upper back to treat migraines and shoulder pain. (Leo, 9/1)
Las Vegas Review-Journal:
Chicken Strips Recalled Due To Plastic Contamination
Approximately 245,366 pounds of frozen chicken strips are being recalled from Conagra Brands, Inc. after the company discovered the products may be contaminated with pieces of plastic. (Lane, 9/3)
The Wall Street Journal:
Feeling Tired? 4 Ways To Fix Your Sleep Schedule And Reset Before Fall
Healthy sleep schedules and habits tend to fall apart during summer. We travel across time zones. We socialize more—and drink more alcohol. Those extra hours of daylight mean we often stay up later. Often, those habits drag into the fall, creating a “jet lag” as we scramble to rise earlier to get kids out the door for school and as work obligations pick up, says Dr. Jennifer L. Martin, a professor of medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles. (Petersen, 9/4)
The Washington Post:
Evening Workouts Can Give You Health Benefits, Including Better Sleep
If morning exercise doesn’t work with your schedule, getting some evening exercise may be your best bet. And it shouldn't hurt your shut-eye if done correctly. (Loria, 9/4)
KFF Health News and WBUR:
When Temps Rise, So Do Medical Risks. Should Doctors And Nurses Talk More About Heat?
An important email appeared in the inboxes of a small group of health care workers north of Boston as this summer started. It warned that local temperatures were rising into the 80s. An 80-plus-degree day is not sizzling by Phoenix standards. Even in Boston, it wasn’t high enough to trigger an official heat warning for the wider public. (Bebinger, 9/1)
