The Claim
Among Brazilian adolescents aged 14–19, abdominal obesity defined by waist circumference is associated with screen time of 3 or more hours per day, with an odds ratio of 1.43 (95% CI 1.24–3.89).
What the research says
Supports is higher
Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
Brazilian adolescents aged 14–19 who spend 3 or more hours per day on screens have a higher prevalence of abdominal obesity measured by waist circumference compared to those who spend less time on screens.
See the scientific wording
Among Brazilian adolescents aged 14–19, abdominal obesity, defined by waist circumference, is associated with screen time of 3 or more hours per day, with an odds ratio of 1.43 (95% CI 1.24–3.89), suggesting that higher screen exposure correlates with increased abdominal adiposity in this population.
Looking at screens late at night stops the body from making a sleep hormone, which delays sleep and keeps teens awake longer. This extra awake time leads to eating more high-calorie, low-nutrient snacks, especially at night. The body stores this extra energy as fat around the belly because the hormones that control hunger and blood sugar get out of balance.
What the research says
1 studyStudy: Association between abdominal obesity, screen time and sleep in adolescents
This study found that Brazilian teens who spend 3 or more hours a day on screens are about 43% more likely to have extra belly fat than those who spend less time on screens, which matches what the claim says.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.