Study finds screen use could be increasing chances of adolescent obesity

A study has found that adolescents, who use screen-based devices regularly, are also likely to have a sedentary lifestyle that increases possibility of obesity.

News Deskbdnews24.com
Published : 4 Jan 2017, 10:57 AM
Updated : 4 Jan 2017, 11:17 AM

The study, by researchers at the University of Queensland surveyed 758 students (13-15 age group) in eight Dhaka schools.

Students were asked how frequently they used screen-based devices for recreation and about other factors that could put them at risk of obesity and other health conditions.

Almost 79 percent of the respondents said they used them for more than the two hours a day recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The number is significantly higher than those reported by studies in other countries, with India reporting 31 percent, China 34 percent and the US 59 percent.

The percentage was also higher than other countries in the Asia-Pacific region such as Australia (63 percent) and Malaysia (68 percent).

The median reported screen time in Bangladesh came out to four hours a day, with boys (4.3 hours a day) using the devices for longer periods than girls (3.6 hours a day).

Forty-eight percent of the surveyed group reported they spent more than four hours a day on screen devices, much higher than comparable studies in Spain (35 percent) and the US (16 percent).

High screen time was also shown to be correlated with commuting to school by car, eating fast food at least three times a week, sleep disturbances and high family income.

Authors Asaduzzaman Khan of the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and Nicola Burton of the School of Human Movement & Nutritional Sciences, believe the study could be a first step in establishing the screen-based behaviour of Asian adolescents and look into the potential causes for obesity and other conditions.

They also hope the study will help to develop pragmatic strategies to reduce sedentary lifestyles in youth.