More Screen Time Equals More Risk of Obesity in Preteens

Last month, the American Academy of Paediatrics updated its recommendations for diagnosing and treating obesity and suggested preventive therapy for kids and teenagers. There hasn’t been much research on how combining physical activity and screen time can affect children’s weight, despite the fact that behavioral recommendations for obesity frequently advocate more physical activity and less screen time.

With regards to preteens who reported eight or more hours of screen time per day, a recent national study found that high physical activity does not reduce the risk of obesity. The study was published in JAMA Network Open. “Spending most of one’s free time in front of screens can replace time for other important activities including physical activity, socialization, and sleep,” says lead author Jason Nagata, MD, assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco.

The study also discovered that among teenagers who reported low levels of physical activity, low amounts of screen time did not mitigate the risk of obesity. Kyle T. Ganson, Ph.D., co-author and assistant professor at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work at the University of Toronto, advises parents to get their kids moving more by engaging them in play, sports, and outdoor activities. Physical activity is a crucial method for families to bond and fortify their bonds, according to Ganson.

The researchers used a Fitbit to track their daily steps and surveyed 5,797 preteens (10–14 years old) on how much time they spend using screens. Preteens reported using screens for leisure on average for eight hours per day at the start of the pandemic. Nagata discovered that screen use during adolescence was linked to obesity, diabetes, and a larger waist circumference 24 years later in a different recent study that was published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. In that study, 7,105 teenagers were followed over the course of 24 years as a nationally representative sample.

“Parents should have regular conversations with their children about screen use and discourage excessive time spent on screens,” said Nagata. “They could encourage screen-free time before bedtime or during family meals. Parents can also act as role models for their children with their own screen time and physical activity.”

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