Study Links Teens' Cell Phone Use With Greater Diabetes, Obesity Risk

BALTIMORE (WJZ)--Can't sleep?  The problem may be in the room with you.

A new study finds our phones, tablets, and other electronic devices may be doing a lot more harm than you think.

In this day and age, it seems it's easier to join them rather than beat them when it comes to people and their tech toys.

Just about everyone WJZ asked admitting it's downright addicting even if it's getting in the way of normal human functions

"At nighttime when I'm trying to go to sleep I'm on till like 4 o' clock in the morning," one man said.

This trend is exactly what a new heath study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association finds it's happening more and more, especially with children and teens.

The concern is that all of this lack of sleep could be putting them at greater risk for obesity and type 2 diabetes.

One doctor tells WJZ the problem goes far beyond just owning one of these devices.

"I don't think just sitting there holding your text device is going to make you a diabetic, I don't care what the study states, the study should state that also none of those people are walking," said Dr. Michael Zollicoffer, with Sinai Hospital.

The study did find that your kids don't really have to be on their devices to be directly affected. Why?  The answer comes with a flick of the switch.

It's called "Blue light" and its emitted from virtually all electronic screens

One teen tells WJZ even with doctor warning about the effect on her sleep, she's not putting the phone down.

"If my phone is gone, then I'm gone," she says.

It's a mentality that health experts are hoping to unplug fast.