Abstract
BackgroundThe use of digital technology such as mobile phones is ubiquitous in adolescents. However, excessive use may have adverse health effects, possibly partially mediated by disruptions to sleep.ObjectiveThis study aims to assess the social predictors of digital technology use and their cross-sectional association with BMI z scores and being overweight in a large sample of adolescents.MethodsWe used baseline data from a subset of a large adolescent cohort from 39 schools across Greater London who participated in the Study of Cognition, Adolescents and Mobile Phones (n=1473). Digital technology use included phone calls, internet use on mobile phones, and video gaming on any device. Multilevel regression was used to assess the associations between digital technology use and age-specific and sex-specific BMI z scores and being overweight (including obesity). Measurements were derived from height and weight, obtained by the Tanita BC-418 Body Composition Analyzer. We examined whether these associations were mediated by insufficient sleep.ResultsGenerally, participants with lower socioeconomic status reported more use of digital technology. Controlling for socioeconomic status, internet use on mobile phones for more than 3 hours per day was associated with higher BMI z scores (adjusted β=.30, 95% CI 0.11-0.48) and greater odds of being overweight (adjusted odds ratio 1.60, 95% CI 1.09-2.34), compared with low use (≤30 minutes). Similar associations were found between video gaming and BMI z scores and being overweight. The BMI z score was more strongly related to weekday digital technology use (internet use on mobile phones and video gaming) than weekend use. Insufficient sleep partly mediated the associations between digital technology use and BMI z scores (proportion of mediation from 8.6% to 17.8%) by an indirect effect.ConclusionsWe found an association between digital technology use and BMI in adolescents, partly mediated by insufficient sleep, suggesting that the underlying mechanisms may be multifactorial. Further research with longitudinal data is essential to explore the direction of the relationships.
Highlights
BackgroundWith advances in information and communication technologies, mobile phone use is ubiquitous, especially in young people, with 44% of 8- to 11-year olds and 86% of 12- to 15-year olds in the United Kingdom owning a mobile phone [1]
We found an association between digital technology use and BMI in adolescents, partly mediated by insufficient sleep, suggesting that the underlying mechanisms may be multifactorial
We could not find a substantial difference between these participants and the entire cohort in terms of sociodemographic characteristics and digital technology use [25]
Summary
BackgroundWith advances in information and communication technologies, mobile phone use is ubiquitous, especially in young people, with 44% of 8- to 11-year olds and 86% of 12- to 15-year olds in the United Kingdom owning a mobile phone [1]. Digital technology offers a broad range of functions, facilitating access to the internet and social networks, instant and text message exchange, multimedia, and entertainment Despite unambiguous advantages such as easy access to information and fast communication, overuse of digital technology is prevalent in children and adolescents because of its powerful potential for diversion and escape from daily life [2,3]. Adolescents who are marginalized or from disadvantaged groups tend to use digital technology at a higher rate, possibly because they are likely to experience dissatisfaction with their offline lives and web spaces can facilitate the development of relationships with peers with similar life experiences [13,14] They may have fewer opportunities to carry out extracurricular activities than their affluent peers and spend more time on digital devices [15]. Excessive use may have adverse health effects, possibly partially mediated by disruptions to sleep
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