NEW DELHI: Smartphones have been amongst the biggest technological revolutions of the past decade, bringing emails, calls, internet and entertainment into your pockets. However, a recent study claims that smartphones are also responsible for lowered fitness level among users.
Faculty members of Education, Health and Human Services at Kent State University, Dr Jacob Barkley and Dr Andrew Lepp conducted a study to see how smartphone usage affects the exercise levels in college students. Unlike television, smartphones are small and portable, making it possible to use them while doing little physical activity.
The two researchers surveyed over 300 college students from the US Midwest regarding their smartphone usage and exercise level. Of the sample group, 49 were selected for fitness level and body composition tests. The results showed that those who spent large amounts of time on their phones - as high as 14 hours a day - were less fit than those who used the handsets under 90 minutes daily.
A student who participated in the study said, "Now that I have switched to the iPhone I would say it definitely decreases my physical activity because before I just had a Blackberry, so I didn't have much stuff on it. But now, if I'm bored, I can just download whatever I want."
This is said to be the first study that evaluates the relationship between smartphones and fitness level of users. It has appeared in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity.
Smartphones are responsible for lowered fitness level |
Faculty members of Education, Health and Human Services at Kent State University, Dr Jacob Barkley and Dr Andrew Lepp conducted a study to see how smartphone usage affects the exercise levels in college students. Unlike television, smartphones are small and portable, making it possible to use them while doing little physical activity.
The two researchers surveyed over 300 college students from the US Midwest regarding their smartphone usage and exercise level. Of the sample group, 49 were selected for fitness level and body composition tests. The results showed that those who spent large amounts of time on their phones - as high as 14 hours a day - were less fit than those who used the handsets under 90 minutes daily.
A student who participated in the study said, "Now that I have switched to the iPhone I would say it definitely decreases my physical activity because before I just had a Blackberry, so I didn't have much stuff on it. But now, if I'm bored, I can just download whatever I want."
This is said to be the first study that evaluates the relationship between smartphones and fitness level of users. It has appeared in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity.
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