Do screens before bed affect teens' sleep and weight?
Paper: Pre-sleep screen time and screen time addiction as shared determinants of poor sleep and obesity in adolescents aged 11–14 years in Scotland
Gale et al. · BMC Global and Public Health 2025 · doi.org/10.1186/s44263-025-00160-y
What the trailer says
Do screens before bed affect teens' sleep and weight? Researchers in Scotland tracked the sleep of 62 young teenagers. Teens who often used screens 30 minutes before sleep had more insomnia symptoms and more body fat. They also fell asleep at less regular times. Teens' wellbeing accounted for 36.3% of the link between bedtime screens and insomnia. This is a link, not proof of cause, and it comes from teens in one part of Scotland.