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Effects of screen time and playing outside on anthropometric measures in preschool aged children

Phillipp Schwarzfischer1, Dariusz Gruszfeld2, Piotr Socha3

  • 1Division of Metabolic and Nutritional Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, University Hospital, LMU, Munich, Germany.

Plos One
|March 3, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Excessive screen time (ST) in preschoolers is linked to higher BMI and waist-to-height ratio at age 6. Playing outside did not show a significant association. Reducing ST may help prevent childhood obesity.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Public Health
  • Childhood Obesity

Background:

  • The global rise in childhood obesity necessitates understanding lifestyle factors in early development.
  • Preschool-aged children's physical activity and sedentary behaviors are critical determinants of long-term health.
  • Investigating the roles of outdoor play and screen time is essential for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the relationship between time spent playing outside (PO) and screen time (ST) from ages 3 to 6.
  • To determine the association of these activities with anthropometric measures, specifically Body-Mass-Index z-Scores (zBMI) and waist-to-height ratio (WTH), at age 6.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study of 526 children from the European Childhood Obesity Project (CHOP).
  • Annual questionnaires assessed average time spent PO and ST between ages 3 and 6.
  • Anthropometric measurements (weight, height, waist circumference) were taken at ages 3 and 6 to calculate zBMI and WTH.
  • Statistical analyses included linear, logistic, and quantile regressions.

Main Results:

  • Increased daily screen time (ST) was significantly associated with higher zBMI and WTH at age 6.
  • Each additional hour of average ST per day increased the risk of a zBMI over 1 by 66% and over 2 by 94%.
  • No significant association was found between time spent playing outside (PO) and the measured anthropometric outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Excessive screen time during the preschool years is a risk factor for elevated zBMI at age 6, independent of outdoor play.
  • Reducing high levels of screen time in preschoolers, even by as little as 1 hour per week, may contribute to childhood obesity prevention efforts.
Abstract

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