Screen Time and Family Resiliency: Factors in Pediatric Obesity

An analysis using data from the National Survey of Children’s Health shows overweight/obesity prevalence rose from 32.8% before COVID to 35.8% during the pandemic. Among children with developmental disabilities, it rose from 37.4% to 39.3%.

Using pooled NSCH data from 2018–2021, the analytic sample included 52,314 children aged 10–17 years. Higher screen time showed a robust, adjusted association with overweight/obesity across periods. Screen time was reported as hours per day spent on TV, computer, cellphone, or electronic devices.

Children reporting ≥4 h/day had an adjusted odds ratio of 1.48 (95% CI, 1.30–1.68; p < 0.001) for overweight/obesity compared with those reporting <2 h/day, and the positive association persisted both before and during the pandemic.

Family resiliency did not significantly modify obesity risk during the COVID-19 period. Low family resiliency was associated with higher odds of overweight/obesity before the pandemic (AOR 1.31, 95% CI 1.06–1.63; p < 0.05) but this effect was not statistically significant during the pandemic.

Key Takeaways:

• Overweight/obesity prevalence increased overall and is linked to higher screen time.
• All children show increases, with higher baseline and sustained risk among those with developmental disabilities.