CHOP Study Links Childhood Smartphone Ownership to Higher Depression and Obesity Risk

A new study led by researchers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), in collaboration with the University of California, Berkeley and Columbia University, found that owning a smartphone in early adolescence is linked to increased risks of depression, obesity, and insufficient sleep. The findings, published in Pediatrics, suggest that the younger a child is when they receive a smartphone, the higher their risk—particularly for obesity and sleep problems.

The study analyzed data from more than 10,000 U.S. adolescents enrolled in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study between 2018 and 2020. Researchers evaluated smartphone ownership and age of first acquisition while accounting for demographic, socioeconomic, developmental, and parental factors. They did not assess which specific smartphone activities contributed to poorer health. Adolescents who acquired a smartphone between ages 12 and 13 showed higher risks of psychopathology and insufficient sleep compared with peers who remained without phones.

Lead author Dr. Ran Barzilay noted that smartphones should be seen as a meaningful factor in youth health—neither inherently harmful nor universally beneficial. He emphasized the need for thoughtful decision-making, as phones can also strengthen social connections, support learning, and provide safety benefits. Moving forward, the team plans to examine specific smartphone behaviors, the effects of receiving phones before age 10, and which adolescents are most vulnerable or most likely to benefit.

Barzilay encouraged families to set clear expectations before giving a child a phone, establish boundaries around sleep and daily routines, adjust privacy controls, and regularly discuss phone-related concerns. He also pointed caregivers to resources from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. The study was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.