Adolescent Obesity and Sedentary Screen Time: A Public Health Perspective

Abstract

Adolescents are increasingly using digital devices, leading to a sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy eating habits, which in turn increases the risk of obesity. The study explores the relationship between screening time exposure and the prevalence of obesity among adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted on (n = 511) adolescents. A structured questionnaire was used to determine socio-demographic data and dietary and physical activity patterns. Body mass index adjusted for age was used to determine obesity levels. Multiple logistic regression was used to predict the probability of obesity based on screen time. The prevalence of obesity was higher among late adolescents aged ≥ 18 years by 44.4%. The overweight group (84.9%) tended to consume more than four meals per day, and 47.3% practiced physical activity less than one time per week. In addition, there is a positive correlation between electronic screen time and body mass index, and the odds of being overweight are 4.5 times higher when exposed to 2-3 hours of smart screen time than in the unexposed group. Prolonged screen time contributes to a sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy eating habits, and increased risk of obesity among adolescents. Public health policies should limit school screen time activity and increase physical education.