How preschoolers' screen time may affect their thinking and weight
Official title: Longitudinal associations of preschoolers' technology and digital medial (TDM) use and executive functioning: a mechanism linking TDM with young children's weight status
Funded at Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-11417489 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in young children looks at how daily technology and screen use relate to thinking skills and body weight as kids grow.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | September 9, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $218,504 |
| NIH project number | 5P01HD109876-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11417489 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children aged about 2–5 years and their families who are participating in a longitudinal pediatrics/psychology program.
✕Less likely to help
Children outside the preschool age range or not exposed to screen use monitoring may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
This project follows preschoolers to see how the amount and type of technology and digital media they use relates to their abilities to think and solve problems, and how that might connect to their weight over time. It uses a mix of clinical psychology, developmental psychology, engineering, and pediatrics to measure screen use with new objective methods. The study also explores how parenting style and the way parents guide screen time influence these relationships. The research is designed as part of a larger program to understand early childhood development and health trajectories. Researchers will analyze how executive functioning and BMI may influence each other in the context of screen use.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide parents and clinicians on how screen time patterns influence thinking skills and healthy weight in preschoolers.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has linked screen time with developmental and health outcomes, but this project uses objective measures to clarify the relationships.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wood, Alexis Caroline — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Wood, Alexis Caroline
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.