JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Screen-based media use among children has been increasing, particularly in lower socioeconomic groups. As this behavior is linked to obesogenic habits, such as physical inactivity, poor dietary habits, and disrupted sleep patterns, it is crucial to examine the associations between screen-based media use and adiposity in primary school children, particularly those from socially vulnerable contexts.

Objective:

To examine the associations between screen-based media use and adiposity in primary school children from socially vulnerable contexts.

Methods:

This study, part of the BeE-school Project, included 735 children (mean age 7.7 ± 1.2 years) from 10 primary schools located in vulnerable contexts in northern Portugal. Researchers recorded weight, height, and waist circumference, and then Body mass index z-scores (BMIz) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were calculated. Screen-based media use was also reported by parents using the ScreenQ tool that includes four domains (screen access, frequency of use, media content and caregiver-child co-viewing). Sociodemographic and anthropometric data of parents were reported via questionnaire. Generalized Linear Models (GLM) were applied.

Results:

Higher screen-based media use score was associated with higher BMIz and WHtR (b = 0.064, 95% CI 0.034 to 0.094; b = 0.002, 95% CI 0.001 to 0.003, respectively) even after adjusting for relevant variables. Similar associations were observed for the domains of screen access, frequency of use, and media content.

Conclusions:

Screen-based media use is linked to increased adiposity in vulnerable children. Reducing screen access, limiting usage frequency, and curating media content could improve health outcomes. Interventions for obesity prevention should consider these factors. Clinical Trial: This study is part of the BeE-school project, a cluster randomized controlled trial registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier NCT05395364).