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Cited by 51Obesity, Physical Activity, DietPhysical Activity and HealthCancer Risks and Factors

Excessive homework, inadequate sleep, physical inactivity and screen viewing time are major contributors to high paediatric obesity

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Ren, Hong, Zhou, Zhixiong, Liu, Wenxi (Kevin), Wang, Xiujiang, Yin, Zenong·2017·Acta Paediatrica
DOI 10.1111/apa.13640PMC PMC6680318
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Abstract

Aim: This study examined the relationships between energy balance‐related behaviours (EBRBs) outside school hours and obesity in Chinese primary school students. We also explored the influence of gender on those relationships. Methods: The study sample was a cross‐sectional cohort of 5032 Chinese children who were enrolled in grades 1–6 in primary schools in five Chinese cities and whose mean ages ranged from seven years and three months to 11.9 years. The children's parents completed a survey on their child's height, weight and EBRBs outside school hours. Results: The response rate was 97%, and the reported rates of overweight and obesity were 13.6% and 13.8%, respectively. The obesity rates were higher in boys and lower grade children. Most EBRBs varied between boys and girls and with increased grade levels. The amount of time spent on academic‐related activities, screen viewing, outdoor activities and sleep was mostly associated with obesity on weekdays and varied by gender. Conclusion: Rate of obesity was alarmingly high in the primary school Chinese children in this cohort, especially in younger children. Excessive time spent on academic‐related activities outside school hours, inadequate sleep, physical inactivity and higher levels of screen viewing were major contributors to obesity in these Chinese children.

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  • These findings are consistent with previous research in Asian students, whose sleep duration associated more strongly with homework time compared with media use or sleep hygiene practices.

    “These findings are consistent with previous research in Asian students, whose sleep duration associated more strongly with homework time compared with media use or sleep hygiene practices.12,32,34,42”

    From Associations of time spent on homework or studying with nocturnal sleep behavior and depression symptoms in adolescents from Singapore (2020) · cites this paper as [42]

    The Discussion says that academic activities outside school hours displaced sleep in Chinese primary-school students, supporting a link between homework and sleep duration. The Results and Discussion do not compare the strength of that link with media use, and the study did not assess sleep hygiene practices. (LLM, conf=0.85)

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Ren, H., Zhou, Z., Liu, W. (., Wang, X., & Yin, Z.
Affiliations
  • Beijing Sport University (CN)
  • Capital University of Physical Education and Sports (CN)
  • The University of Texas at San Antonio (US)
  • Children's Center of China Beijing China
Corresponding author
Ren, Hong
ORCID
Venue
Acta Paediatrica
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2016-12-12
Volume
106
Issue
1
Pages
120-127
ISSN
  • 0365-1436 (ISSN-L)
  • 0803-5253
  • 1651-2227
DOI
10.1111/apa.13640
PMC
PMC6680318
OpenAlex
W2535449844
Cited by
51
References
1
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 1
FWCI
3.31
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Acta Paediatrica (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Children's Center of China
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer Risks and Factors
Keywords
childhood obesity, homework, sleep, physical inactivity, screen viewing, elementary school students, gender differences, overweight, Chinese children
MeSH terms
Child, China, Cross-Sectional Studies, Curriculum, Female, Health Surveys, Humans, Male, Recreation, Risk Factors, Sex Factors, Sleep Deprivation, Television, Time Factors, Exercise, Video Games, Sedentary Behavior, Pediatric Obesity

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