Preventing chronic disease
A Systematic Review of Screen Time and Obesity in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults: Sex-Specific Pathways and Implications for Public Health Interventions
By Min J, Chae Y and Jeong Y.
Abstract
Introduction
Screen time is associated with multiple adverse health outcomes, including obesity. However, evidence for children and adolescents is limited and inconsistent, and potential sex-specific differences have not been characterized. This systematic review aimed to synthesize evidence on the association between screen time and obesity-related outcomes among children, adolescents, and young adults, with a focus on sex-specific pathways and implications for public health interventions.
Methods
This systematic review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines and was based on an a priori protocol. Two reviewers independently selected studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Data were synthesized based on the direction of associations and patterns of sex differences.