Study looks at screen time and bone density in teens

Teenage boys who spend more time in front of screens tend to have lower bone mineral density (BMD), according to a study of Norwegian students presented April 4 at the World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases. The study, presented by lead author Dr. Anne Winther of the Arctic University of Norway, observed an adverse correlation between the time teenage boys spent in front of screens and their bone mineral density, which the author identifies as "a strong predictor of future fracture risk." Data was collected on the teenagers' screen habits and other lifestyle factors, and each participant's bone mineral density was evaluated in three ways: at the hip, at the femur neck and for the body overall.