To Study the Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity by Assessing Body Mass Index (BMI) Among the Smartphone Users of School-Age Children and Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study in Malawa Region, Indoor MP

Abstract

Background: Body mass index (BMI) is one of the most commonly used indices to measure the weight status of an individual. Overweight children and adolescents have reached the dimensions of a global epidemic in recent years. Simultaneously, information and communication technology use has rapidly increased.

Aim: To find the prevalence of overweight and obesity by assessing body mass index (BMI) among the smartphone users of school-age children and adolescents in Malawa region, Indoor MP.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, Index Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre Indore MP, India. The study participants from primary, higher secondary, and intermediate schools located in rural and urban areas of Madhya Pradesh; of either sex adolescents (10 to 19 years) of age group were enrolled in this study. Anthropometric parameters (age, height, weight, and BMI), physical inactivity, and lipid profile screening (such as total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, and very low-density lipoprotein) were recorded.

Results: Children with higher age, male sex, non-veg diet, father’s employment, and higher socioeconomic status were significantly associated with obese and overweight children (p<0.05). Outdoor playing and playing every day were significantly higher in Normal BMI children (p<0.05). while indoor physical activity was significantly lower in obese, overweight, and underweight children (p<0.05). Total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, and VLDL were significantly higher in obese and overweight children (p<0.05). while HDL, outdoor, and indoor physical activity were significantly lower in obese and overweight children (p<0.05). BMI and Use of smartphones every day were positively significantly associated (p<0.001). Playing every day and lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL) was positive and HDL was negative significantly associated with BMI and duration of use of smart Phone every (p<0.001

Conclusions: According to this study, there is a varied correlation between teenage obesity and using one or more forms of screen-based electronic devices for more than two hours a day and being overweight or obese. This study does, however, strongly suggest that longitudinal research be done in the future to validate our results and determine the pattern of connection with weight status.