Abstract
Screen time (ST) not only affects physical activity but can also be associated with dietary behaviors. Both of these factors determine the health and development of adolescents. The aims of the study were: 1. to analyze the relationship between ST and nutritional behaviors among adolescents; 2. to examine this association in relation to body weight status. Data on the ST duration and nutritional behaviors were collected using a questionnaire. Body mass status was assessed based on weight and height measurements. A total of 14,044 students aged 13–19 years old from 207 schools participated in the study. A significant relationship between ST and gender, age and type of school was observed, but not body weight status. The average ST duration increased with age (from 2.6 h among 13 years old to 3.2 h among 19 years old), and was significantly higher among boys in all age categories (2.7 h vs. 2.5 h in the youngest age group, and 3.5 h vs. 3.0 h in the oldest age group, respectively). The chance for meeting the recommendation for ST in a group of girls (regardless of age) was almost 50% higher compared to boys. Meeting ST recommendation (≤2 h) was associated with a greater odds ratio for favorable nutritional behaviors in the whole group, with exception of drinking milk or milk beverages, and significantly reduced the odds ratio of adverse dietary behaviors (drinking sweet beverages, consumption of sweets and fast food) in the whole group and by gender. More research is needed to clarify the possible cause-and-effect relationships between ST and dietary behaviors.
Highlights
A key condition for proper growth and development, as well as achieving and maintaining good health is a balanced diet and regular physical activity [1]
Significant differences were observed for body weight, height and BMI values between girls and boys in all age categories, except for body mass index for the group of 13-year-olds
Our study shows the relationship between screen time and various dietary behaviors, important indicators of diet quality, in a large sample of adolescents aged 13–19
Summary
A key condition for proper growth and development, as well as achieving and maintaining good health is a balanced diet and regular physical activity [1]. This is reflected in the general recommendations of healthy nutrition directed to adults, children and adolescents. Such recommendations, presented in the graphic form of a pyramid or a plate, increasingly include physical activity as an integral part of a healthy lifestyle [2], determining the amount of food to be Nutrients 2020, 12, 1323; doi:10.3390/nu12051323 www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrients. For at least one hour a day, and limiting use of TV, computer and other electronic devices to 2 h are strongly recommended for these age groups [4]
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