Briefing
Researchers at the Universidad de Navarra have, in collaboration with the Fundación Mapfre presented the study “Dieta, pantallas y síntomas de TDAH en la infancia. Resultados del Proyecto SENDO” on 24 September 2026. The prospective analysis included 568 children aged four to five, followed over a two-year period. Standardised screening found a relative risk of 2.16 for meeting screening criteria for possible attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder among children who spend two or more hours a day in front of screens, compared with children who have less than an hour of screen time.
Alongside media use, the data collection also took account of dietary habits. According to the report, higher consumption of ultra-processed foods was associated with poorer results in several behavioural dimensions, including hyperactivity, problems in relationships with peers, reduced prosocial behaviour and attention problems. The authors explicitly stress that this is an observational study; no causal conclusions can be drawn from it. Genetic and neurobiological influences remain key factors in the development of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
The study lead Nerea Martín (Universidad de Navarra) and representatives of Fundación Mapfre view the findings as a basis for preventive recommendations: limiting daily screen time in preschool children and encouraging a diet with fewer ultra-processed products. The report makes no specific legislative proposals, but recommends that parents, paediatricians and educational institutions promote consistent everyday rules and easy-to-follow routines.
The findings add to a growing international body of research examining links between media use, diet quality and mental health in early childhood. The authors call for further robust, long-term studies to clarify possible cause-and-effect relationships and identify courses of action more precisely.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).