Sedentary behavior in adolescents in small city in the south of the country

Abstract

Study design: Cross-sectional Study. Objective: To investigate the prevalence of sedentary behavior based on screen time and demographic and socioeconomic factors associated in adolescents. Method: The study was conducted in a small town of Santa Catarina by applying a self-reported questionnaire on television, video game and computer use and demographic and socioeconomic factors. Results: The prevalence of sedentary behavior was 90.5% (95% CI: 82.1-95.8). The prevalence of sedentary behavior for television use was 60.7% (95% CI: 49.4-71.1), followed by computer use, 38.1% (95% CI: 27.7- 49.3) and video game use, 11.9% (95% CI: 5.8-20.8). Boys used more video games. Students of the night shift and low economic status had longer computer use. Adolescents who did not work and whose parents studied eight years or less had higher exposure to television use. Conclusion: The prevalence of sedentary behavior based on screen time was high in adolescents from a small town in southern Brazil, and those who studied in the night shift and parents that studied eight years or more were less likely to be exposed to excessive television use