Elementary School Children Already Have A Cellphone? Study Reveals Risk Of Obesity And Sleep Disorders Increase

JAKARTA - Now more and more children in elementary school age already have private smartphones. However, this turned out to be of special concern, because the latest study found the bad effects of smartphones on children.

Quoted from Science Alert, on Friday, December 5, 2025, US researchers found that the ownership of smartphones at the age of 12 and under was related to the increasing risk of depression, obesity, and sleep shortages.

The findings come from an analysis of 10,588 participants in a youth brain development study. It was found that 6.5 percent of 12-year-old children already have smartphones that have received a diagnosis of depression.

This figure is higher than 4.5 percent in children who still don't have cell phones. Child and adolescent psychiatrist Ran Barzilay said that the findings showed the need for a more careful approach in providing smartphone access to children.

The smartphone needs to be seen as a factor that can affect the health of teenagers. The decision to give it to children should be done with careful consideration," said Barzilay.

This study also found that there were significant differences in weight. As many as 18 percent of children aged 12 years who already have smartphones are recorded to be obese, while in groups they do not have a smartphone that lifts at 12 percent.

Sleep disorders are also clearly visible. Nearly half of 12-year-old children who already have sleep smartphones are less than nine hours each night, and sleep less quality.

However, the researchers emphasized that this study is observational. This means that the results cannot confirm that smartphones cause depression or obesity.

However, consistency of findings that have been seen from the beginning of children getting cell phones makes relationships more appropriate to research further. Barzilay also considers that smartphones can indeed be useful for the learning process and social connection, but the habit of using them must still be balanced, especially in children.

"Children still need time away from the screen to move actively. Physical activity can help prevent obesity and maintain mental health," concluded Barzilay.