Roundup: U.S. Advisory Warns of Too Much ‘Screen Time’ Harming Health of Children, Teens; and More News

Surgeon General’s Report: Excessive Screen Time May Harm Health of Children, Teenagers

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has issued a new Surgeon General’s advisory warning that excessive screen use among children and teenagers may be contributing to growing mental and physical health concerns. The report focuses on smartphones, tablets, social media, video games, and other digital devices increasingly used by children at younger ages.

According to the advisory, many children begin using screens before their first birthday, and screen time often increases steadily through adolescence. By the teenage years, many young people spend four or more hours daily on recreational screen use, not including school-related activities.

Mental Health and Sleep Concerns

Health officials say heavy screen use has been associated with several health issues, including poor sleep, lower physical activity, reduced attention span, and fewer face-to-face social interactions. The report also points to research linking excessive screen time with anxiety, depression, and behavioral problems in some children and teens.

Anxiety is a condition involving excessive worry or nervousness, while depression is a mental health disorder that can cause ongoing sadness, low energy, and loss of interest in normal activities.

Experts say screen use before bedtime is especially concerning because it may interfere with sleep quality. Blue light from screens can disrupt the body’s natural sleep cycle, making it harder for children and teens to fall asleep and stay asleep.

The advisory notes that not all screen use is harmful. Educational content, video chats with family members, and interactive learning tools may provide benefits when used in moderation.

Recommended Screen Time Limits

The report includes several recommendations for parents and caregivers. Health officials advise avoiding screen use for children younger than 18 months except for video chatting. Children under age 6 should generally have no more than one hour of screen time daily. Older children and teens are encouraged to stay under two hours of recreational screen use per day whenever possible.

The advisory also encourages families to create “family media plans” that establish clear rules around screen use. These plans may include screen-free meals, device-free bedrooms, and limits on social media or gaming.

A Public Health Issue Beyond the Home

The Surgeon General’s report says responsibility should not fall entirely on parents. Schools, healthcare providers, policymakers, and technology companies are also encouraged to help reduce harmful screen use among young people.

Suggested actions include stronger parental controls on apps and devices, school cellphone restrictions, and more research into how digital media affects children’s developing brains.

Officials say the goal is not to eliminate technology but to promote healthier habits and better balance. The advisory encourages families to prioritize physical activity, outdoor play, hobbies, and in-person social interaction to help support children’s overall well-being.

Not All ‘Ultra-Processed’ Foods Are Bad for You, New Report Says

For years, health experts have urged people to cut back on ultra-processed foods. But a major new report says that blanket advice may be too simplistic — and could actually be leading people away from foods that are good for them.

The report, published by Healthy Eating Research (HER), a nonprofit health policy group, finds that "ultra-processed food" is a broad category that includes everything from hot dogs to whole-grain breakfast cereal. Those two items, the researchers argue, should not be treated the same way.

"Many people have been told to avoid processed foods, but the science is clearly telling us that we need to be more nuanced, "states Noah Praamsma, registered dietitian for Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine,  a national health advocacy nonprofit, in a news release about the report.

What does "ultra-processed" actually mean? Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are industrial products made with ingredients rarely found in a home kitchen — like artificial flavors, preservatives, emulsifiers, and color additives. The term covers a huge range of foods, which is why researchers say the label alone is not enough to judge whether a food is healthy.

Generally Healthier UPFs

• Whole-grain breads
• Breakfast cereals
• Plant-based meat alternatives
• Some savory snacks

Consistently Harmful UPFs

• Processed meats (bacon, hot dogs, deli meats)
• Sugary drinks
• Artificially sweetened beverages

Research backs this up. A Harvard University analysis found that while sugary drinks and processed meats raised the risk of heart disease, breads, cold cereals, and certain snacks showed beneficial effects on health. Separately, plant-based meat alternatives and bread have been linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes — a condition where the body cannot properly regulate blood sugar.

Why Does This Matter For Policy? 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) are currently working to create an official definition of UPFs. That definition will shape real-world policy: which foods can be taxed, how products are advertised, and what gets served in school lunch programs. The HER report urges policymakers to exempt healthier ultra-processed foods from restrictions aimed at unhealthy ones.

The report's authors — a 14-member expert panel — outlined specific criteria for identifying "healthy" UPFs. A food qualifies if it:

• Contains meaningful amounts of recommended food groups (like whole grains, legumes, or vegetables)
• Stays below set limits for added sugar, sodium (salt), and saturated fat
• Does not contain artificial sweeteners (non-sugar sweeteners)

This position is gaining mainstream support. The American Heart Association stated in August 2025 that not all ultra-processed foods are nutritionally poor, and that some can fit into a healthy diet overall.

The takeaway for consumers: focus less on whether a food is "processed" and more on what's actually in it. Check the label for whole-food ingredients, watch for high sugar and sodium content, and treat processed meats and sugary drinks as the bigger concern — not your morning bowl of cereal.

Walking More After Surgery Linked to Faster Recovery, Study Finds

A new study suggests that one simple habit after surgery — walking more — may play an important role in recovery.

Researchers found that surgical patients who increased their daily step counts after their procedures were less likely to experience complications, spend extra time in the hospital, or return to the hospital after discharge. The findings were published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.

All surgery patients should check with their healthcare team regarding post-operative walking or any other activity. The number of steps any individual takes each day should be considered in light of other health issues, the American College of Surgeons said in a news release.

The study also examined whether heart rate variability (HRV) and self-reported wellness scores could predict recovery. However, neither showed a strong connection to surgical outcomes.

Researchers Analyzed Wearable Device Data

The research team reviewed data from nearly 2,000 adults who underwent inpatient surgery and used wearable devices such as fitness trackers before and after surgery.

Participants had at least 30 days of wearable data before surgery and another 30 days after surgery. The average participant age was about 50 years old, and nearly 70% were women.

Researchers focused on three main recovery measures:

• Daily step counts
• Heart rate variability (HRV)
• Self-reported wellness scores

HRV refers to tiny variations in the time between heartbeats. It is commonly used as a measure of how the body responds to stress and recovery. In general, higher HRV is often considered a sign of better overall health and nervous system function.

The wellness scores included patient-reported measures such as sleep quality, pain, anxiety, depression, and energy levels.

More Daily Steps Linked to Better Outcomes

The strongest predictor of recovery was postoperative walking activity.

For every additional 1,000 steps per day after surgery compared with a patient’s normal pre-surgery activity level, researchers observed:

• Shorter hospital stays
• Lower risk of complications within 30 and 90 days
• Reduced likelihood of hospital readmission

Hospital readmission occurs when a patient must return to the hospital after being discharged, often because of complications or delayed recovery.

Researchers found that increased walking consistently correlated with better outcomes across nearly all recovery measures studied.

HRV and Wellness Scores Showed Limited Value

While HRV has gained attention in recent years as a health monitoring tool, the study found that changes in HRV after surgery did not meaningfully predict recovery outcomes.

Similarly, patients’ own reports of how they felt physically or emotionally were not strongly associated with complication rates or readmissions.

The researchers suggest that objective activity data from wearable devices may provide more reliable information than subjective wellness reports alone.

Wearable Devices Could Become Part of Surgical Recovery Programs

Many hospitals already use Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) programs, which encourage early movement, pain control, and nutrition support to speed healing.

According to the researchers, wearable devices may eventually help doctors monitor recovery more closely and guide decisions about discharge planning and follow-up care.

The study does not prove that walking more directly causes better recovery, but it does highlight postoperative movement as an important and measurable sign of progress after surgery.