"The Digital Garden: Investigating the Impact of Screen Time on BMI and Physical Activity Among School Children"

Abstract

                                                   ABSTRACT

Introduction: Due to increased screen exposure in today's digital age, there is rising trend in childhood obesity and decreased physical activity duration. This study aims to explore these relationship in children.

Objectives :To estimate the prevalence of screentime among school-going children and explore the relationship between screen time, BMI, and physical activity levels.

Materials And Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted in  government and private schools of Meerut. A total of 240 children were included based on a calculated sample size using a presumed prevalence of 18%. A structured, validated questionnaire was administered to collect data which was assessed to evaluate associations between screen time, physical activity, and BMI across different demographic and socioeconomic segments.

Results: Excessive screentime (?2 hours/day) was more prevalent among children from private schools and those belonging to higher socioeconomic classes. Children with longer screen exposure were significantly more likely to be overweight and obese (P=0.003). Physical activity was inversely related to screen time, with 43.5% of children in the high screen time group engaging in less than one hour of daily physical activity (P<0.001). Furthermore, frequent junk food consumption was also associated with longer screen exposure (P<0.001), likely contributing to elevated BMI in this group.

Conclusion: The present study underscores the adverse health impacts of excessive screen time on young minds, especially regarding increased BMI and reduced physical activity. This highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions by parents, educators and public health authorities to cultivate healthier lifestyle patterns and digital habits among children.