Prolonged use of electronic devices promotes a sedentary lifestyle, which can lead to overweight, obesity, and other health issues. It is noteworthy that 59.7% of children aged 6 to 11 years in Mexico are frequent internet users (López, 2023).
In Mexico, 97 million people access the internet, representing 81.2% of the population aged 6 and older, according to data from the Mexican National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI, Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía) (INEGI, 2023). Additionally, 97.2 million Mexicans, equivalent to 81.4% (INEGI, 2023), use a mobile phone. This information is from a 2023 survey by INEGI and the Mexican Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT, Instituto Federal de Telecomunicaciones).
In Mexico, approximately 16.9 million households own a computer, while 34.9 million households have at least one television (INEGI, 2023).
Guidelines
The guidelines for children under 5 years published by the World Health Organization (WHO) and consulted by the Data Laboratory against Obesity (LabDO, Laboratorio de Datos contra la Obesidad) emphasize that “sedentary behaviors, whether using motorized transport instead of walking or biking, sitting at a desk in school, watching television, or playing with screens, are increasingly prevalent and are associated with poor health in infants” (UN, 2019).
Other Issues
Excessive use of mobile devices can also cause posture problems; expose minors to content categorized as “potentially dangerous”; lead to attention and concentration difficulties, delays in language development; social isolation and sleep disorders, according to an article published on the Neurocentro – Functional Recovery website in Tenerife, Spain (Neurocentro, 2023).
Experts suggest that moderate, supervised device use can improve knowledge, learning, and social interactions, but it’s crucial to limit children’s screen time.
Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity
According to the results of the National Health and Nutrition Survey (Ensanut, Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición) 2020-2023, the prevalence of overweight and obesity was 37% among schoolchildren and 40% among adolescents (INSP, 2023), and it is estimated that there are 542,000 Mexican children living with type 1 diabetes, with nearly 78,000 children developing it each year (Centro Médico ABC, 2022).
Sources
- Centro Médico ABC. (2022, 3 de mayo). Diabetes infantil. https://centromedicoabc.com/revista-digital/diabetes-infantil-segunda-enfermedad-mas-comun-entre-los-ninos/#:~:text=En%20nuestro%20pa%C3%ADs%20existen%20542,cifra%20ascendi%C3%B3%20a%202.9%20casos.
- INEGI (2023, 13 de junio). Encuesta Nacional sobre Disponibilidad y Uso de Tecnologías de la Información en los Hogares (ENDUTIH) 2023. https://www.inegi.org.mx/contenidos/saladeprensa/boletines/2024/ENDUTIH/ENDUTIH_23.pdf
- INSP. (2023). Resultados de la Ensanut 2020-2023. https://www.insp.mx/avisos/presentan-resultados-de-la-ensanut-2020-2023
- LabDO, R. (2024, Noviembre 20). Uso en exceso de dispositivos electrónicos fomenta sedentarismo en menores. Laboratorio De Datos Contra La Obesidad. https://labdo.org/uso-en-exceso-de-dispositivos-electronicos-fomenta-sedentarismo-en-menores/
- López Suárez, P. (2023, 25 de septiembre). La tecnología en la niñez puede fomentar también la creatividad. Gaceta UNAM. https://www.gaceta.unam.mx/la-tecnologia-en-la-ninez-puede-fomentar-tambien-la-creatividad/
- Neurocentro. (2023, 17 de octubre). Impacto negativo del uso de dispositivos digitales en el desarrollo de niños y niñas. https://neuro-centro.com/uso-de-dispositivos-digitales-e-impacto-negativo-en-el-desarrollo-de-los-ninos-y-ninas/#
- ONU. (2019, 24 de abril). Recomiendan que los niños no usen pantallas hasta los dos años. Noticias ONU. https://news.un.org/es/story/2019/04/1454801
