Digital habits and physical health: a study of screen time and BMI among young healthcare profession students and residents.

Background: Average screen time has increased drastically after the COVID-19 pandemic. It has raised concerns about the adverse effects, including the effect on BMI.

Aim: The present study is conducted to study the relationship between screen time and BMI among medical students at a medical institute in Lahore, Pakistan.

Methods: For this cross-sectional study, a sample of 370 medical students and residents was obtained from a medical institute in Pakistan. An online survey to gather data about screen time activities, device usage, and BMI. Screen time was categorized into low (1-2 h/day), moderate (3-4 h/day), and high (5-6 h/day), while BMI score was calculated and categorized into under-weight, normal, overweight, and obese groups. Descriptive and inferential statistics including Spearman correlation analysis were applied using IBM SPSS 25.0.

Results: Most participants fell into the normal BMI category (79%), with a smaller proportion classified as overweight (16%) or obese (5%). Most participants preferred using smartphones (92.1%). About 41% of participants had high screen time. There was a strong positive correlation between low screen time and normal BMI (r = 0.999). However, only 2.9% of the participants had low screen time. The link between higher screen time and obesity is observed especially in males, while females maintain a more stable normal weight, suggesting gender-based lifestyle or metabolic differences.

Conclusion: Screen time is significantly associated with BMI with a strong positive correlation as well. There is need to design educational programs to raise awareness about the safe use of devices and the amount of screen time.