Associations between Screen-Based Activities, Physical Activity, and Dietary Habits in Mexican Schoolchildren.

Erica G Soltero,Juan Ricardo López-Taylor,Alejandra Jáuregui,Simón Barquera,Edtna Jáuregui,Lucie Lévesque,Luis Ortiz-Hernández,Edith Hernandez,Rebecca E Lee

doi:10.3390/ijerph18136788

Abstract

Screen-based activities are associated with increased risk of obesity and contribute to physical inactivity and poor dietary habits. The primary aim of this study was to examine the associations among screen-based activities, physical activity, and dietary habits in school-aged children in Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, and Mexico City, Mexico. The secondary aim was to examine these associations across sex. The School Physical Activity and Nutrition survey was used to assess screen-based activities (TV watching, video game use, computer use), physical activity, and dietary habits. Organized activity/sports participation, unhealthy dietary habits, and household income were correlated with screen-based activities. While TV watching was associated with decreased participation in organized activity/sports participation, computer and video game use was associated with increased organized activity/sports participation. Boys engaged in more TV watching and video game use compared to girls. All screen-based activities were associated with age among boys; whereas video game and computer use were associated with higher income among girls. These findings suggest a need for sex- and age-specific strategies that acknowledge the differential use of screen-based activities across sex and age. Future research should continue to identify underlying correlates linking screen-based activities with health behaviors to inform strategies to reduce screen-time in Mexican children.

Highlights

Pediatric obesity is a critical public health challenge in Mexico; the prevalence of obesity among Mexican children has reached 35.8% among Mexican girls and 34.1% amongMexican boys [1]
Common correlates across all three screen activities were participation in organized activities or sports, unhealthy dietary habits index score, and household income
This study examined the associations among screenbased activities (TV watching, videogame use, computer use), dietary habits, and physical activity in school-aged children in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, and Mexico City, Mexico

Summary

Introduction

Pediatric obesity is a critical public health challenge in Mexico; the prevalence of obesity among Mexican children has reached 35.8% among Mexican girls and 34.1% among. An extensive body of literature has demonstrated that screen time significantly contributes to pediatric obesity and obesity-related disease risk factors including hypertension and insulin resistance [2,3]. As technology has become a ubiquitous part of everyday life, today’s youth are exposed to technology at a younger age and are the.

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