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Association between sedentary behavior, screen time and metabolic syndrome among Chinese children and adolescents
Cheng et al. (2024) investigated the relationship between screen time, sedentary behavior, and Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) in Chinese children and adolescents aged 7–17 years by using data from the China National Nutrition and Health Surveillance of Children and Lactating Mothers performed in 2016–2017. Anthropometric measures, clinical exams, physical and health questionnaires were used to collect data on sedentary time, screen time, and MetS markers. Analysis of the results indicated that in 2016-2017, the prevalence of MetS among students aged 7-17 years was 5.45%. Boys with high sedentary behavior had greater prevalence rates of MetS, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), high triglycerides (TG), and abdominal obesity than did boys with low sedentary behavior. Similarly, girls with high sedentary behavior exhibited elevated prevalence rates of abdominal obesity, high TG, hyperglycemia, and MetS. In addition, the prevalence rates of MetS, low HDL-C, and abdominal obesity were greater in boys and girls who reported screen usage of ≥ 3 hours per day. After controlling for confounding factors, a high sedentary time was linked to higher risks of MetS, low HDL-C, high TG, and abdominal obesity. Spending ≥ 3 hours/day on screen time corresponded to 1.15 and 1.14 times higher risks of abdominal obesity and MetS, respectively. The authors remark that this research highlights the association between heightened levels of screen time and sedentary behavior and an increased risk of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) in Chinese children and adolescents aged 7 to 17. Interventions aimed at reducing sedentary behavior and screen time may play a crucial role in preventing metabolic diseases in this demographic. [NPID: Children, adolescents, China, metabolic syndrome, screen time, sedentary time]
Year: 2024
