The Relationship between Screen Time and Sleep Duration among Obese Adolescents: Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Background: Management of obesity in adolescents should routinely include intensive care regarding lifestyle and diet, with consideration of ant-obesity medication and bariatric surgery if indicated. Obesity in adolescents has become a focus of global attention because of its impact on long-term health. This study aimed to estimate the relationship between sleep duration and screen time with the risk of obesity among adolescents.

Subjects and Method: This meta-analysis was conducted using a PICO research question. Population: Adolescents. Intervention: Screen time ≥2 hours/day and sleep duration <8-10 hours/day. Comparison: Sleep duration 8-10 hours/day and screen time <2 hours/day. Outcome: Obesity. The articles were searched from databases PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus. Keywords used “Sleep duration” AND “Screen Time” AND “Adolescent” AND “Obesity”. The inclusion criteria included were full-text paper, cross-sectional and cohort study from 2013 to 2023. The article was analyzed using Review Manager 5.3.

Results: The meta-analysis included 24 cross-sectional studies from Asia, Africa, Europe, and America. Screen time ≥2 hours/day was associated with the risk of obesity 1.11 times compared to screen time <2 hours/day (aOR= 1.11; 95%CI= 1.09 to 1.14; p<0.001) and adolescents with sleep duration <8-10 hours/day had a risk of obesity 1.24 times compared to sleep duration ≥8-10 hours/day (aOR= 1.24 95%CI= 1.12 to 1.37; p<0.001). Twelve cohort studies from Asia, Europe and America. Screen time ≥2 hours/day was associated with the risk of obesity 1.12 times compared to screen time <2 hours/day (aOR= 1.12; 95%CI= 1.07 to 1.17; p<0.001), and adolescents with sleep duration <8-10 hours/day had a risk of obesity 1.20 times compared to sleep duration ≥8-10 hours/day (aOR= 1.20; 95%CI= 1.10 to 1.31; p<0.001). Overall effect showed that screen time ≥2 hours/day was associated with the risk of obesity 1.12 times compared to screen time <2 hours/day Screen time (aOR= 1.12; 95%CI= 1.09 to 1.14; p<0.001), and adolescents with sleep duration <8-10 hours/day had a risk of obesity 1.20 times compared to sleep duration ≥8-10 hours/day sleep duration (aOR= 1.22; 95%CI= 1.14 to 1.30; p<0.001).

Conclusion: Longer screen time and shorter sleep duration are associated with an increased risk of obesity in adolescents.