Abstract

This study was conducted to explore the relationship between outdoor activity time, screen time and body weight of children. All the participants, 3–6 years of age (n = 1422), from four kindergartens in Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, were selected as the subjects by random cluster sampling. Weight and height were measured. Total screen time, time of outdoor play were self-reported by parents in a questionnaire. We used the X2 test, t-test and logistic regression analysis to analyze the data. After adjusting the influencing factors such as children’s age, father’s education level and screen time, the risk of overweight and obesity was 1.734 times (95% CI: 1.178–2.552) higher for the children with outdoor activity time ≤ 2 h/d: 2.050 (95% CI: 1.252–3.357) for boys, 1.472 (95% CI: 0.785–2.761)—for girls. After adjusting the influencing factors such as children’s age, father’s education level and outdoor activity time, the risk of overweight and obesity in the children with screen time ≥ 1 h/d was 1.639 times (95% CI: 1.272–2.113) that in the children whose screen time was less than 1 h/d, including 1.474 times (95% CI: 1.057–2.057) higher for boys and 1.676 times (95% CI: 1.119–2.511) higher for girls. Thus, both long screen time and outdoor activity time were associated with the increase in the risk of overweight and obesity.

Highlights

  • Child obesity has become one of the most challenging public health problems, and this issue is no longer a patent of developed countries

  • Watching TV, computers, mobile phones and other screen devices for a long time has a great impact on childhood obesity[1]

  • From April to June 2019, after the children’s afternoon school was over, the team members who received uniform training gathered the caregivers of the children surveyed in the classroom, and the team members and parents explained this time

Read more

Summary

Introduction

Child obesity has become one of the most challenging public health problems, and this issue is no longer a patent of developed countries. Many developing countries are at risk of the increasing prevalence of childhood obesity. With the popularization of electronic media products such as televisions, computers, and mobile phones, the opportunities for children to access electronic products continue to increase. Watching TV, playing with computers, and using mobile phones have become an indispensable part of children’s lives. Watching TV, computers, mobile phones and other screen devices for a long time has a great impact on childhood obesity[1]. The superimposed effects of screen time and outdoor activities on childhood overweight and obesity still lack corresponding research[2]

Materials and Methods
Physical characteristics of children
Discuss

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.