The Impact of Digital Screen Time on Dietary Habits and Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents
Background: Over the last few decades, the time children spend using electronic devices has increased significantly. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of screen time on dietary behaviors and physical activity in children and adolescents. Methods: An online survey was conducted among pa...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/14/2985 |
| _version_ | 1797444572462186496 |
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| author | Agata Rocka Faustyna Jasielska Dominika Madras Paulina Krawiec Elżbieta Pac-Kożuchowska |
| author_facet | Agata Rocka Faustyna Jasielska Dominika Madras Paulina Krawiec Elżbieta Pac-Kożuchowska |
| author_sort | Agata Rocka |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Over the last few decades, the time children spend using electronic devices has increased significantly. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of screen time on dietary behaviors and physical activity in children and adolescents. Methods: An online survey was conducted among parents of preschool and school-aged children during the COVID-19 lockdown in Poland. There were 3127 surveys used in the analysis. Results: Survey responses referred to 1662 (53%) boys and 1465 (47%) girls, with a mean age of 12.1 ± 3.4 years. During a routine weekday, most children (71%) spent >4 h on educational activities using electronic devices, and 43% of children spent 1–2 h using devices for recreational purposes. The majority of children (89%) were exposed to screens during meals, and ate snacks between main meals (77%). There was an association between screen time and the exposure to screens during meals, and between screen time and time spent performing physical activity. Conclusions: This study revealed that the majority of children were exposed to screens during meals, which is a risk factor of obesity. The promotion of the judicious use of digital devices and healthy dietary habits associated with the use of screens may be an important component of obesity prevention strategies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:13:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-603891179c8440c1aa81708529cb1337 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:13:52Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-603891179c8440c1aa81708529cb13372023-11-30T21:38:40ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432022-07-011414298510.3390/nu14142985The Impact of Digital Screen Time on Dietary Habits and Physical Activity in Children and AdolescentsAgata Rocka0Faustyna Jasielska1Dominika Madras2Paulina Krawiec3Elżbieta Pac-Kożuchowska4Students’ Scientific Group, Department of Pediatrics and Gastroenterology, Medical University of Lublin, Racławickie 1, 20-059 Lublin, PolandStudents’ Scientific Group, Department of Pediatrics and Gastroenterology, Medical University of Lublin, Racławickie 1, 20-059 Lublin, PolandStudents’ Scientific Group, Department of Pediatrics and Gastroenterology, Medical University of Lublin, Racławickie 1, 20-059 Lublin, PolandDepartment of Pediatrics and Gastroenterology, Medical University of Lublin, Racławickie 1, 20-059 Lublin, PolandDepartment of Pediatrics and Gastroenterology, Medical University of Lublin, Racławickie 1, 20-059 Lublin, PolandBackground: Over the last few decades, the time children spend using electronic devices has increased significantly. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of screen time on dietary behaviors and physical activity in children and adolescents. Methods: An online survey was conducted among parents of preschool and school-aged children during the COVID-19 lockdown in Poland. There were 3127 surveys used in the analysis. Results: Survey responses referred to 1662 (53%) boys and 1465 (47%) girls, with a mean age of 12.1 ± 3.4 years. During a routine weekday, most children (71%) spent >4 h on educational activities using electronic devices, and 43% of children spent 1–2 h using devices for recreational purposes. The majority of children (89%) were exposed to screens during meals, and ate snacks between main meals (77%). There was an association between screen time and the exposure to screens during meals, and between screen time and time spent performing physical activity. Conclusions: This study revealed that the majority of children were exposed to screens during meals, which is a risk factor of obesity. The promotion of the judicious use of digital devices and healthy dietary habits associated with the use of screens may be an important component of obesity prevention strategies.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/14/2985lifestyleelectronic devicesdietobesity |
| spellingShingle | Agata Rocka Faustyna Jasielska Dominika Madras Paulina Krawiec Elżbieta Pac-Kożuchowska The Impact of Digital Screen Time on Dietary Habits and Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents Nutrients lifestyle electronic devices diet obesity |
| title | The Impact of Digital Screen Time on Dietary Habits and Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents |
| title_full | The Impact of Digital Screen Time on Dietary Habits and Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents |
| title_fullStr | The Impact of Digital Screen Time on Dietary Habits and Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Impact of Digital Screen Time on Dietary Habits and Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents |
| title_short | The Impact of Digital Screen Time on Dietary Habits and Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents |
| title_sort | impact of digital screen time on dietary habits and physical activity in children and adolescents |
| topic | lifestyle electronic devices diet obesity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/14/2985 |
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