# The Impact of Modern Lifestyles on Spinal Health in the Pediatric Population: A Narrative Review

## TL;DR

Modern lifestyles are increasing spinal issues in children, with screen time and sedentary habits contributing to early spinal dysfunction.

## Contribution

Highlights the shift in spinal dysfunction epidemiology among children due to lifestyle changes and calls for integrated prevention strategies.

## Key findings

- High screen time and sedentary behavior are linked to spinal dysfunction in children.
- Childhood obesity and poor diet may influence spinal development through metabolic and biomechanical effects.
- Loss of spinal lordosis in adolescents is under-researched despite its potential impact.

## Abstract

What are the main findings?
Until now, discopathy was believed to be rare in children and adolescents and to result mainly from post-traumatic conditions. Meanwhile, changing lifestyles among the youngest generation are causing significant shifts in the epidemiology and clinical presentation of patients with early spinal dysfunction.

Until now, discopathy was believed to be rare in children and adolescents and to result mainly from post-traumatic conditions. Meanwhile, changing lifestyles among the youngest generation are causing significant shifts in the epidemiology and clinical presentation of patients with early spinal dysfunction.

What are the implications of the main findings?
Identifying modifiable factors that impede spinal growth could help prevent early dysfunction, which is crucial to the correct development of the younger generation.

Identifying modifiable factors that impede spinal growth could help prevent early dysfunction, which is crucial to the correct development of the younger generation.

Background: Children’s behavior and lifestyle are changing rapidly, potentially exceeding the capacity of physiological adaptation. Contemporary lifestyles may negatively affect spinal development and contribute to dysfunction and premature degeneration. Despite the increasing prevalence of postural changes, cervical spine disorders in adolescents remain under-researched. Methods: This narrative review is based on a comprehensive search of PubMed/MEDLINE and Scopus. The search strategy included a broad review of anatomical and biomechanical literature from the past 25 years and a focused review of studies from the last 15 years to reflect recent generational changes. Results: The immature spine has distinct structural and biomechanical characteristics that increase susceptibility to maladaptive responses to unbalanced forces. High screen time is associated with sedentary behavior and increased consumption of ultra-processed foods, which may affect metabolic health and musculoskeletal development. Childhood and adolescent obesity are increasingly prevalent and may influence spinal development, including through myosteatosis. Data on the consequences of cervical and lumbar lordosis loss in adolescents remain limited. Although degenerative spinal disorders are well recognized in adults, their identification in younger populations may be inadequate. Conclusions: Modern lifestyle factors pose a growing risk to children’s spinal health through complex interactions among behavioral, metabolic, and biomechanical mechanisms. The developing spine’s vulnerability and the coexistence of multiple, interrelated risk factors support the need for integrated preventive strategies rather than single-factor interventions. Future studies should focus on models capturing these interactions and their long-term consequences.