Sedentary behaviors (screen time and sitting time) among boys aged ۷ to ۱۰ years in Pishva City

Prolonged time spent in sedentary behavior is an independent risk factor for multiple preventable diseases, including cardiovascular disease, stroke, obesity, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases, and all-cause mortality.This study aimed to investigate the rate of sedentary behaviors such as duration of the screen time (using a laptop, smartphone, watching TV, etc.) and sitting time in boys aged ۷ to ۱۰ years in Pishva city.The study design was a cross-sectional descriptive survey conducted online due to prevent Covid-۱۹ infection among children aged ۷-۱۰ years in Pishva city in January and February ۲۰۲۲. Subjects were selected by the snowball sampling. Participants were invited to the study using Shad and WhatsApp social apps. According to the literature, information was received from parents. The sitting time of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and the time of staring to screen were assessed based on the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Questionnaire. Data were analyzed by using SPSS ۲۲ software.One hundred ninety boys (۸.۳ ± ۱.۲ years) have participated in this study. The results showed that ۳۳% of the participants had less than ۲ hours of screen time and of meeting ۲۴-Hour Movement Guidelines. Fourteen percent of participants spend more than ۵ hours a day in front of a TV, computer, smartphone, tablet, or other electronic devices, watching programs or movies, playing inactive video games, surfing the Internet, or using social media. The average sitting time per day was ۲۸% less than ۲ hours, ۳۴% between ۲ - ۴:۳۰ hours, and ۳۸% more than ۴:۳۰ hours. Participants also reported a ۴۲ % increase in screen time and a ۲۰ % increase in sitting time on the weekend.The findings indicate that the rate of sedentary behaviors in this age group is very high. Therefore, it is essential to educate parents to be aware of the risks of sedentary behaviors. It should be emphasized to breaking up prolonged time spent sitting and replace active games with sitting and watching TV.