Screen Time as a Determinant of Chosen Aspects of Lifestyle: A Cross-Sectional Study of 10- to 12-Year-Old Schoolchildren in Poland.

The study aimed to analyze the relationship between screen time (ST) duration, body weight status (BWS), and selected lifestyle behaviors in children aged 10-12. A cross-sectional study of 7763 (50.8% girls) Polish schoolchildren was conducted in 2023-2024. Data on ST, physical activity (PA), sleep duration (SD), frequency of consumption of unhealthy foods, family meals (FM), and sociodemographic data were collected using a paper questionnaire. Anthropometric data were obtained from measurements; body mass index (BMI) was used to assess BWS, and the waist-to-height ratio to measure central obesity. A logistic regression model was performed to assess the effect of unhealthy food consumption, FM, BWS, PA level, and SD on the odds of excessive ST (>2 h/day). Girls were less likely to extend ST than boys (OR: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.70-0.86). Increased PA had a limiting effect on the dependent variable (moderate OR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.53-0.77; vigorous OR: 0.37; 95% CI: 0.31-0.45). Sleeping 6-8 h per day was associated with a 41.6% increase in prolonged ST (OR: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.27-1.57). Overweight/obese individuals were 39.6% more likely to exceed ST compared to normal-weight peers (OR: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.16-1.68). Living in a village and a smaller city increased the odds of excessive ST (OR: 1.12; 95% CI: 1.07-1.41 and OR: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.03-1.34). Excessive body mass and unhealthy dietary habits, particularly sugary beverages, have been identified as significant risk factors for excessive ST. Optimal SD, high PA, and regular FM might have a protective effect on ST. This knowledge will contribute to designing more tailored and effective educational interventions promoting healthy lifestyles in children.