A Cross-Sectional Study On Association Of Screen Time Usage With Overweight And Obesity Among Rural School-Going Children Aged 10-15 Years In Kolar
Keywords:
Ursodeoxycholic acid, alcoholic liver disease, hypertension, Spironolactone, Rifaximin, human albuminAbstract
Introduction: The rapid rise in childhood obesity is closely linked to lifestyle changes, especially increased screen time due to technological advancements. Screen-based sedentary behaviours have become a major contributor to reduced physical activity in children. This study explores the relationship between screen time and Body Mass Index (BMI) among middle school children aged 10–15 years in Kolar, Karnataka.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among middle school children aged 10–15 years who met the inclusion criteria, with parental consent and child assent obtained. Data were collected using a predesigned questionnaire covering screen time habits, followed by anthropometric measurements. BMI was calculated using standard procedures and categorized based on IAP 2015 charts. Average daily screen time was derived from reported usage across school days and holidays.
Results: The study included 196 children, with 53.57% males and 46.43% females. Most participants (50.51%) reported screen time between 61–120 minutes/day, while 36.22% exceeded 121 minutes/day. The highest mean BMI (21.70) was observed in the ≥121 minutes group, compared to 16.25 and 15.72 in the moderate and low screen time groups, respectively. Overall, 27.69% of children were either overweight or obese. Females had a slightly higher mean BMI than males. However, the Chi-square test showed no statistically significant association between screen time and BMI categories (p = 0.136).
Conclusion:
The study observed a trend of higher BMI with increased screen time among rural school children in Kolar, though the association was not statistically significant. These findings underscore the need to reduce screen time and promote active lifestyles. Future research with larger samples is needed to explore this relationship further. Public health efforts should target screen use, physical activity, and nutrition to combat rural childhood obesity
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