Association Between Plasma Leptin Levels and Self-Reported Screen-Time Among Type 2 Diabetics with Obesity
Keywords:
Leptin, Screen time, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, FBS, BMI, ObesityAbstract
Background: In the current digital era, increased screen time is associated with sedentary behavior, which can adversely impact metabolic and hormonal health. Leptin, a hormone secreted by adipose tissue, plays a crucial role in energy homeostasis and is implicated in obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Emerging evidence suggests a link between screen exposure and leptin regulation, yet this relationship remains underexplored in adult diabetic populations.
Objectives: To evaluate the association between plasma leptin levels and self-reported screen time, and to assess its potential impact on metabolic health among individuals with T2DM and obesity.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted over two years at Pacific Medical College & Hospital, Udaipur. A total of 250 obese participants were enrolled and divided into two groups: 125 with T2DM and 125 without. Demographic, anthropometric, and biochemical data, including fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, and leptin levels, were collected. Screen time was self-reported via structured interviews. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS, with significance set at p < 0.05.
Results: A positive correlation was observed between screen time and plasma leptin levels (Pearson’s r = 0.199; p < 0.05). No significant differences were found in fasting glucose or HbA1c across screen-time categories. Difference in BMI with screen-time was statistically significantly (ANOVA F statistics = 5.809, p value <0.05).
Conclusion: Prolonged screen exposure is significantly associated with increased leptin levels among obese individuals with T2DM. These findings highlight leptin as a sensitive biomarker for sedentary behavior and underscore the importance of lifestyle interventions targeting screen-time reduction in metabolic disease management.
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