Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors (Screen Time and Homework) Among Overweight or Obese Adolescents Before The COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study in Yazd, Iran

Abstract

Background The growing number of adolescents who are overweight or obese (OW / OB) is a public concern. The present study was aimed to evaluate PA and sedentary behaviors (SB) (screen time (ST) and homework time (HT)) among Yazd OW/OB adolescents before the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This cross-sectional study was performed among 510 students aged 12–16 in Yazd, Iran. The general information, physical activity (PA), and SB (ST and HT) were collected by interview based on the WHO standard questionnaire. Anthropometric data and daily energy intake (Energy) were assessed. Results There was a high prevalence of SB > 2h/day (97.6), ST > 2h/day (70.3%), overweight or obesity (40%), abdominal obesity (36.9%), low PA (29.8%) among the students. The younger age (p = 0.014), energy (p < 0.001), no access to the yard (p < 0.001), family size ≤ 4 (p = 0.023), the commuting to school by motor vehicles (p = 0.001), the highest school days’ HT (p = 0.033) and SB (p = 0.021), and the highest weekends’ HT among the students were the risk factors for OW/OB. The highest PA level was associated with a lower risk of OW/OB (p < 0.001). The findings were not the same in both sexes. Compared to the normal weight students, OW / OB spent more time on school days and weekdays for ST (P < 0.001), HT (P < 0.001, P = 0.005) and SB (P < 0.001), respectively. OW/OB students showed a higher weekends’ ST (p < 0.001) and lower HT (p = 0.048) than normal-weight students. Conclusion The prevalence of SB, ST, OW/OB, and low PA were common. The school days and weekends’ HT, the school days’ SB and HT, age, energy, PA, and access to the yard, family size, and the commuting to school were related to the greater chances of OW/OB students. Given that the expansion of online education and self-isolation in a new situation with COVID-19, it seems we will meet the worrying results.