Screen time, sport and sleep of a population of Algerian adolescents - Influence of gender and body mass index

Objective. - This article analyses the influence of gender and body mass index (BMI) on the usual physical activities of a population of Algerian adolescents. Material and methods. - Data on sleep durations, studying at home, being in front of a screen (television, computer, smartphone, playing console) were collected using a questionnaire. Information on sporting activity was also collected. International references from the World Health Organization have been used to classify subjects by ponderal status. Results. - A total of 501 adolescents (10-19 years old) schooled in primary, middle and secondary cycles participated in the study. A negative correlation was found between the duration of sleep and their age (r=-12%). The normal weight adolescents were predominant (65.5%; P<0.0001). For sporting activity, 8.2% of those surveyed did not practise it (neither at school, nor in the gym, nor outdoors). Positive correlations were observed between age and BMI (r=36%), duration of use smartphone and BMI (r= 50%) and with age (r = 48%). For the three school levels, the average duration of using a smartphone was positively and significantly correlated with BMI (primary: r= 29%; middle: r = 35%; secondary: r = 45%). Conclusion. - This study highlights the importance of promoting a healthy lifestyle during adolescence through the capacity for self-regulation by avoiding a health risk behaviours, including the use of digital technologies and the lack of practice of sport. (C) 2020 Societe francophone nutrition clinique et metabolisme (SFNCM). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.