Impact of screen time on the eating behavior of overweight children and adolescents

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.70368/gecs.v1i2.13674

Keywords:

Eating behavior, pediatric obesity, nutritional status, screen time, eating

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the relationship between screen time and the eating behavior of overweight children and adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted with overweight children and adolescents in Fortaleza. Sociodemographic and clinical data, physical activity practices, screen exposure habits, and nutritional status were investigated. The Children’s Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (CEBQ) was used to assess eating behavior. 82 children and adolescents participated, 69.5% of whom were female. Nutritional status was associated only with the "emotional overeating" subscale (p = 0.006). Daily screen time was significantly associated with eating behavior in subscales reflecting interest in food ("food responsiveness": p = 0.039; "enjoyment of food": p = 0.002; "desire to drink": p = 0.01), with higher averages in the group with excessive daily screen exposure. Additionally, they also had a poorer response to satiety, as indicated by the "satiety responsiveness" subscale (p = 0.037). The habit of eating in front of a screen was significantly associated with the "emotional overeating" (p = 0.019) and "emotional undereating" (p = 0.014) subscales. The eating behavior of overweight children and adolescents excessively exposed to screens shows an increased interest in food, greater sensitivity to external food stimuli, desire for sugary drinks, and a lower ability to regulate food intake. Eating in front of screens and nutritional status were associated with eating behavior influenced by emotional stress factors.

 

Author Biographies

Mayra Bezerra Targino , Walter Cantídio University Hospital

Nutritionist with a Postgraduate Degree in Hospital Health Care with an Emphasis on Diabetes.

Alane Nogueira Bezerra, Universidade Estadual do Ceará

Possui graduação em Nutrição pela Universidade Estadual do Ceará (2012), especialista em Nutrição Clínica e Funcional (2015) e em Prescrição de fitoterápicos e suplementação nutricional clínica e esportiva (2017), Diabetologista pela Residência Multiprofissional de Assistência em Diabetes pelo Hospital Universitário Walter Cantídio/UFC (2017), Mestre em Nutrição e Saúde pela Universidade Estadual do Ceará (2015). Doutoranda em Saúde Coletiva - UECE. Nutricionista Servidora Pública do município de São Gonçalo do Amarante - CE. Preceptora de Núcleo da Residência Multiprofissional com Ênfase na Saúde da Família e da Comunidade (Escola de Saúde Pública - CE). Professora do Curso de Nutrição da Unifametro (2017- atual). Atua principalmente nos seguintes temas: saúde coletiva, doenças crônicas não transmissíveis, obesidade, doenças nutricionais.

Luana Matos de Souza , Walter Cantídio University Hospital – HUWC

  Nutritionist Master in Public Health at the Federal University of Ceará (UFC)

Eric Wenda Ribeiro Lourenço , State University of Ceará (UECE)

Nutritionist studying for a Master's degree in Public Health at the State University of Ceará (UECE)

Annelise Barreto de Carvalho , Walter Cantídio University Hospital – HUWC

Doctor with a PhD in Child and Adolescent Health from the State University of Campinas

Renan Magalhães Montenegro Júnior , Federal University of Ceará (UFC)

Doctor with a PhD in Clinical Medicine from the University of São Paulo (USP)

Carla Soraya Costa Maia , State University of Ceará (UECE)

Nutritionist with a PhD in Applied Human Nutrition from the University of São Paulo (USP)

Synara Cavalcante Lopes, Walter Cantídio University Hospital – HUWC

Nutritionist with a PhD in Medical Sciences from the Federal University of Ceará (UFC)

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Published

2025-01-13

How to Cite

TARGINO , M. B.; BEZERRA, A. N.; SOUZA , L. M. de; LOURENÇO , E. W. R.; CARVALHO , A. B. de; MONTENEGRO JÚNIOR , R. M.; MAIA , C. S. C.; LOPES, S. C. Impact of screen time on the eating behavior of overweight children and adolescents. Gestão & Cuidado em Saúde, Fortaleza, v. 2, n. 1, p. e13674, 2025. DOI: 10.70368/gecs.v1i2.13674. Disponível em: https://revistas.uece.br/index.php/gestaoecuidado/article/view/13674. Acesso em: 11 may. 2025.

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Vol. 2 (2024): Volume 2

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Copyright (c) 2025 Mayra Bezerra Targino , Alane Nogueira Bezerra, Luana Matos de Souza , Eric Wenda Ribeiro Lourenço , Annelise Barreto de Carvalho , Renan Magalhães Montenegro Júnior , Carla Soraya Costa Maia , Synara Cavalcante Lopes

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