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Smartphone bans alone fail to equip children for healthy use of technology

Focus should shift to a rights based approach, argue experts Banning smartphone and social media access alone fails to equip children for healthy use of technology, argues a group of international experts in The BMJ today. They say the focus should shift to a rights based approach, underpinned by age appropriate design ...

2025-03-31T08:49:37+00:0031 March 2025|Press release, The BMJ|

Public health advice on safety of glycerol-containing slush ice drinks likely needs revising

Detailed review of 21 cases of acutely ill children linked to these products prompts concerns Public health advice on the safe consumption of glycerol-containing slush ice drinks, also known as slushees, may need revising, conclude researchers after carrying out a detailed review of the medical notes of 21 children who ...

Poor childhood social and cognitive skills combo linked to teens’ poor exam results

These children up to 4 times as likely not to pass 5 GCSEs as those without such issues These issues may account for around 17% of exam fails in 16 year olds, say researchers  The combination of poorly developed social and cognitive skills during childhood is linked to poor exam ...

2025-02-11T09:48:54+00:0011 February 2025|Archives of Disease in Childhood, Press release|

Likely 50-fold rise in prevalence of gender related distress from 2011-21 in England

But condition still uncommon, affecting fewer than 1 in 200 17-18 year olds, figures suggest Levels of anxiety, depression, and self-harm are high among recorded cases Accessing timely care live issue for young people and their families, second study shows The prevalence of psychological distress caused by a mismatch between ...

Major uncertainties remain about impact of treatment for gender related distress

Syntheses of available evidence suggest it’s impossible to determine pros or cons Findings on puberty blockers and gender affirming therapy back those of Cass Review Major uncertainties remain about the impact of puberty blockers and gender affirming hormone therapy on children and young people with gender related distress (gender dysphoria), ...

Childhood poverty and/or parental mental illness may double teens’ risk of violence and police contact

These kids more likely to carry/use weapons and get on wrong side of the law by age of 17 Factors may explain nearly third of UK teen weapon issues + quarter of police contact cases Living with persistent poverty and/or parental mental illness throughout childhood may double the risk of ...

Fairy tales can help teach children about healthy sleep

They offer opportunities to engage with children about healthy and disordered sleep, say researchers Some traditional fairy tales and classic children’s fiction that have soothed many a child to sleep may also provide accessible and engaging ways to discuss healthy sleep with children, suggest researchers in the Christmas issue of The ...

2024-12-20T12:00:19+00:0020 December 2024|Press release, The BMJ|

Disney princesses face hidden health risks, warn experts

Disney must consider strategies to improve princesses’ wellbeing Although Disney princesses seem to live happily ever after, they face serious real world health hazards, warn experts in the Christmas issue of The BMJ. Sanne van Dijk and colleagues call on Disney to consider strategies such as mindfulness and personal protection measures ...

2024-12-17T12:06:58+00:0017 December 2024|Press release, The BMJ|

Study finds widening inequalities in child vaccination rates across England

Vaccine uptake “consistently lower” among children in areas of higher deprivation Number of children susceptible to measles at age 5 increased 20-fold in most deprived areas Inequalities in childhood vaccination are widening in England, with uptake rates of five key vaccines consistently lower in young children living in areas of ...

2024-12-12T11:33:02+00:0012 December 2024|Press release, The BMJ|

End food and drink industry’s infiltration of UK children’s education, say experts

Kellogg’s and Greggs have sponsored school breakfast clubs in the UK for more than two decades, reaching many thousands of primary school children Experts say tactics are highly problematic and require much greater scrutiny An investigation published by The BMJ today reveals widespread influence of food and drink brands in schools and ...

2025-01-22T11:40:50+00:005 December 2024|Press release, The BMJ|
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