Long periods of screen time, whether on phones or televisions, may increase the risk of cardiac and metabolic illnesses in children, according to a Danish study publication.

The study tracked the screen intake and sleep habits of nearly 1,000 10- and 18-year-olds, examining the relationship between screen time and cardiometabolic risks.

“Children and young adults who spend excessive hours glued to screens and electronic devices may have higher risks for cardiometabolic diseases, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and insulin resistance,” said the study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

As a result, the researchers discovered that they are more likely to acquire cardiovascular disease or diabetes.

The study found that each additional hour of daily screen time increases the risk of disease.

“This means a child with three extra hours of screen time a day would have roughly a quarter to half a standard deviation higher risk than their peers,” lead author David Horner, a researcher at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, said in a statement.

“Multiply that across a whole population of children, and you’re looking at a meaningful shift in early cardiometabolic risk that could carry into adulthood,” Horner added.

Researchers are divided on the possible negative impacts of screens on children and adolescents, but most believe that younger populations are more vulnerable than adults.

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