New study shows time spent in front of children’s screens is linked to poorer diet adherence

A new study confirms previous concerns and shows that children who spend more time playing video games and streaming are less likely to adhere to the Mediterranean diet, underscoring the importance of managing screen time.

Study: Media use and adherence to the Mediterranean diet in children. Image source: Pressmaster / Shutterstock.com

A study recently published in the journal Nutrients examines how different forms of media use in children are associated with poorer eating habits, particularly adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD).

The health effects of screen time on children

In recent years, digital media use has increased exponentially, particularly among children and young people who are exposed to different types and forms of digital content across many different devices and platforms. Increased exposure to digital media, including video games, streaming platforms, and social media, can negatively impact health, academic performance, and cognitive and emotional abilities.

Screen time in children has been negatively associated with unhealthy eating habits, including irregular or skipped meals and mindless consumption of junk food and drinks that are high in energy but low in nutritional value. Several factors are involved in this association, including the child’s attraction to unhealthy foods because of frequent exposure to advertisements for these products, tendency to skip meals when busy with screens, increased late-night snacking, and sedentary behavior .

Puberty is a time when increased nutrient intake is crucial. However, the greater freedom acquired during adolescence can lead to increased consumption of junk food with less than ideal amounts of fruits, vegetables and dairy products, accompanied by excessive intake of salt, sugar and fat.

MD is associated with numerous health benefits, including a reduced risk of metabolic, immune and neurological disorders. In addition to its direct health benefits, MD also promotes social well-being by encouraging families to eat together and enjoy meals, which is particularly important during childhood.

Previous studies have shown that children with more screen time are less likely to follow the MD. To further explore this connection, researchers in the current study examined how digital use affects medical adherence in children.

Study overview

The current study included 332 children between the ages of 10 and 11, all in the fifth year of primary school in the same city in Italy. The daily eating habits of the study participants were surveyed by their mothers using the KidMed questionnaire.

The KidMed survey was conducted between March and May 2023 as part of the primary school health program “Le Buone Abitudini” (Healthy Habits), which focuses on healthy eating habits.

Mothers were also asked about how long their children used media. After adjusting for confounding factors, the data were analyzed for possible connections.

Digital Media Habits: How Kids Spend Their Screen Time

Over 86% of children were moderately adherent to the MD. Approximately 67% of the study cohort were of normal weight, while 18.4%, 10.7%, and 4.3% were considered overweight, obese, and underweight, respectively.

About 30% of the study cohort had less than one hour of homework per day, while 67.5% spent more than one hour on homework. Although 35.6% of study participants did not participate in any extracurricular activity, 83.4% of the study cohort played at least one sport.

The study cohort’s primary digital activities included watching TV or streaming videos and other content from streaming platforms, which took up an average of five hours per week. On average, 2.5 and 2.3 hours were spent watching video content and playing digital games each week, respectively.

Media use had no significant influence on MD adherence. However, children who played digital games and watched TV or streamed content were less likely to adhere to the Mediterranean diet. This supports previous research that found that children’s healthy eating habits become less common as screen time increases.

Viewership of television and streaming content is likely linked to certain factors that predispose children to poor nutrition, such as: E.g., mindless eating, excessive sedentary time, and unplanned meals. Advertising on streaming platforms is particularly concerning because it is often targeted at specific audiences.

Through digital games, children become more active, sleep less, have poorer sleep quality and lose their self-confidence. These factors may explain why increased time spent playing video games affects adherence to a healthy diet.

Screen time is linked to poorer eating habits

More time watching television or streaming digital content and playing digital games is negatively associated with healthy eating in children. The widespread availability of wearable digital devices and their incorporation into an increasing number of everyday activities, including academic tasks and social communication, therefore highlights the importance of studying the impact of these devices on children’s health habits, including eating.

Receiving recommendations about children’s use of digital media devices can help parents improve their children’s well-being.”