Supporting Teen Health: From Screen Time to Sports Safety
Small practical habits can make a real difference to a teenager's wellbeing, writes Dr John Deady in this partner content from Bulli Medical Practice
The teenage years bring rapid growth, increasing independence and plenty of exciting change — but they also come with unique health challenges.
Small practical habits can make a real difference to a teenager's physical and mental wellbeing and it's something I talk about regularly with families at Bulli Medical Practice.
Screen Time
Current Australian guidelines including those from the RACGP recommend limiting recreational screen time to no more than two hours per day for teenagers. Excessive use has been linked to poorer sleep, reduced concentration, headaches, eye strain and worsening mental health.
Evening screen use is particularly problematic as it suppresses melatonin production and delays sleep onset. Teenagers need 8–10 hours of sleep each night yet many are chronically sleep deprived. Removing devices from bedrooms overnight and avoiding screens for at least one hour before bed are simple but effective strategies.
Physical Activity and Sports Safety
Australian guidelines recommend at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity every day for teenagers. Organised sport supports cardiovascular fitness, bone strength, coordination and mental wellbeing. However sprains, overuse injuries and concussion remain common in adolescents.
Proper warm-ups, good hydration, adequate recovery days and appropriate protective equipment all help to reduce injury risk. Any teenager with a suspected concussion should be removed from play immediately and assessed by a GP before returning to sport.
Why Regular GP Visits Matter
Regular check-ups give us the opportunity to monitor growth, sleep, mental health, nutrition and general wellbeing. Early intervention and healthy habits established during the teenage years can have lasting benefits well into adulthood.
If you have a teenager at home and would like to book a health check get in touch with Bulli Medical Practice online or call us on 4284 4622.
About the writer
Dr John Deady graduated from the University of Wollongong in 2014 and joined Bulli Medical Practice in 2020. He continues to work in Emergency Medicine as a senior clinician and serves as a sports doctor with the St George Illawarra Dragons NRL team. Outside of work, he enjoys time with his wife and young family.
Bulli Medical Practice supports independent local news with regular advertising in the Illawarra Flame's monthly magazine.
