Pattern of Screen Time among Middle School Students in Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Abstract Purpose: The threat of childhood obesity has never been greater. Behavior changes implemented during childhood and adolescence are believed to be the most successful means of thwarting the progression of this epidemic. The American Academy of Pediatrics has developed a public health campaign that promotes awareness of clinical guidelines for nutrition and physical activity. The campaign is based on a concept developed by the Maine Center for Public Health referred to as “5-2-1-0 Healthy”. The simple clear message of this concept outlines steps families can take to help prevent and treat childhood obesity. The purpose of the present study is to determine the current level of compliance and health education needs of a middle school population related to the “5-2-1-0” concept. Methods: A modified version of the 2010 National Youth Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey (developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) was distributed to students at a private, nonsectarian, middle school in New York City. The school is located in the borough of Manhattan, but includes youngsters from all five boroughs of the city. The questions were grouped and analyzed according to “5-2-1-0” categories. Surveys were scored, and the association between targeted questionnaire items and demographic variables (i.e., sex and grade) was examined. Results: All 140 students completed the survey, and there was great variability in their responses to both the nutrition and physical activity questions. Of all students, 65% reported eating one cup or more of fruit daily, and 38% reported eating one cup or more of vegetables daily. There was no statistically significant difference reported in consumption of fruits or vegetables by gender or grade. Over 60% of students indicated <2 h of DVD/video or computer/video game time per day, while 10% indicated more than 3 h per day for each. A significant difference existed in the screen time reported between grades (more screen time by the older students) and a statistically significant difference also existed in the amount of physical activity reported by gender and grade (more physical activity by males and younger students). There was no difference in the reported consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages by gender or grade. Conclusion: In a cohort of middle school students in New York City, there was great variability in compliance with the principles represented by the “5-2-1-0” concept. Changes in health behaviors were noted as students went from 6th to 7th to 8th grade, with physical activity decreasing and screen time increasing. Consequently, health curriculum topics for middle school students should focus on physical activity and screen time, while continuing to emphasize the need for proper nutrition.

Download Full-text

Abstract P211: Response to a School-based Health Intervention in High- and Low-income Communities

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.129.suppl_1.p211 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 129 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Robert Rogers ◽

Nicole Corriveau ◽

Alexander Lee ◽

Alexandra Pew ◽

Wen-Ching Wei ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Middle School ◽

Middle School Students ◽

Low Income ◽

Screen Time ◽

Family Income ◽

The United States ◽

Low Ses ◽

School Students ◽

School Based

Introduction: Childhood obesity is associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk and is a major health issue in the United States. Previous studies show higher rates of obesity in low socioeconomic status (SES) communities. The efficacy of school-based interventions in these communities is not as well documented. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that low SES would be less healthy at baseline and show greater improvement than high SES. Methods: Project Healthy Schools (PHS) is a school-based intervention targeted at middle-school students in lower Michigan. We studied body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), lipid profiles, resting and recovery heart rate (HR), and behavioral characteristics in 3147 middle-school students. Students were stratified into 2 groups: high SES and low SES. Ann Arbor (median family income=$53,377) students were included in the high SES cohort (n=1840) while Ypsilanti ($33,699) and Detroit ($27,862) were considered low SES (n=1307). Chi-square, Wilcoxon, and t-tests were conducted to compare baseline and baseline-to-follow-up data. Median household income was based on US Census Bureau data. Results: At baseline, those students in the low SES cohort performed significantly worse than the students in the high SES cohort in nearly every category, most notably: BMI, systolic and diastolic BP, resting and recovery HR, fried food consumption, exercise, and screen time. Upon follow-up, post-intervention examination, low SES improved recovery HR, screen time, fried meat and snacks, and sugary beverages significantly more than high SES. High SES improved fruit, BP, and total cholesterol significantly more than low SES. Conclusions: The PHS intervention was more efficacious in a number of categories in higher-risk, low SES communities. This suggests a need for the implementation of similar school-based programs in low SES areas.

Download Full-text

Screen Time and Developmental Eye Movement Testing in Middle School Students

Vision Development & Rehabilitation ◽

10.31707/vdr2021.7.2.p107 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 107-116

Keyword(s):

Middle School ◽

Middle School Students ◽

Eye Movement ◽

Screen Time ◽

Smart Devices ◽

Ocular Motility ◽

School Students ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Current Sample ◽

Oculomotor Function

Background: Screen time continues to increase among children and youth, yet little is known about its potential effects on oculomotor development and function. The aims of the current study were to (a) compare oculomotor function in children today to those tested before smartphone use and (b) explore correlations between screen time use and oculomotor function among children today. Method: A retrospective comparison was conducted comparing normative data published in the Developmental Eye Movement (DEM) Test manual in 1990, prior to the invention of smart devices, to data collected in 2020. Correlations between screen time and DEM variables were also explored within the current sample. Results: Sixty middle school students reported spending on average 45.5 hours/week on screens with approximately 18.5 hours/week on iPhones, 14.5 hours/week on television and 10.5 hours/week on computers. Surprisingly, DEM performance was not significantly improved in the current sample compared to the historical sample. There were also no significant correlations between any screen time variables and oculomotor metrics within the current sample. Conclusion: Despite the significant increase in screen time usage since 1990, DEM performance was replicable among 6th, 7th, and 8th grader students tested 30 years later. A statistically significant difference was found among 7th graders on DEM Vertical, where the 2020 students performed slower however, this difference may not be clinically significant. Importantly, DEM Ratio, a key variable for identifying ocular motility dysfunction (OMD), was also not significantly different between 1990 and 2020. Moreover, screen time in the current sample did not correlate with any DEM variables. This study provides preliminary evidence indicating that as measured by the DEM Test, increased screen time may not affect ocular motility. Further research is warranted using more finite methods for measuring saccade and smooth pursuit eye movements during the use of screened devices.

Download Full-text