Technology and digital media's influence on preschoolers' sleep and weight
Official title: Technology and digital media's influence on preschool children's sleep and weight status
Funded at Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-11417486 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how screen time from TVs, games, and mobile devices affects sleep and weight in preschool children.
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) | $297,942 |
| NIH project number | 5P01HD109876-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11417486 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are children aged approximately 1–8 years whose families are willing to participate in home-monitoring and sleep tracking for study periods.
✕Less likely to help
Children whose families cannot participate in home-monitoring or use wearable devices may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
This project will use new ways to measure how much time young children spend with screens, including a device that passively records viewing on TVs and games, plus improved methods to track sleep. Researchers will collect data from children over two 10-day periods, about a year apart, to see how screen use relates to sleep and body weight. The study aims to link daily media habits to health outcomes that matter for kids as they grow. Parents and caregivers will participate by helping implement the measurement procedures and share relevant information about routines.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could inform families about healthy screen habits and support strategies to promote better sleep and healthier weight in young children.
How similar studies have gone: Past studies relied on parental reports; this project uses objective measures and could strengthen the evidence base.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: O'connor, Teresia Margareta — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: O'connor, Teresia Margareta
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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.