The relationships between the time spent on using the internet, body condition and dietary intake among high school students

Abstract

Objectives: This study was conducted to assess the relationships between behavior, the time spent on using the internet, body condition and food intake in a private high school.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted for 10th grade students (108 boys, 98 girls). A self-administrated questionnaire was used to assess the students' behavior (time spent on using the internet, wakeup and bedtime, sleep time, appetite and other subjective symptoms). A brief self-administered diet history questionnaire was also used to grasp the usual dietary content. Based on data about the time spent on using the internet, the students were stratified into three groups (SG, short time group, less than 2 hours; MG, middle time group, more than 2 but less than 4 hours; and LG, long time group, more than 4 hours), which were then compared.

Results: The SG, MG, LG rates for internet usage were 35.2%, 45.4%, 19.4% in the boys, and 23.5%, 53.0%, 23.5% in the girls. The number of subjective symptoms was significantly higher in the LG groups (both boys and girls), compared with the SG groups. The boys in the LG group consumed more soft drinks, compared with the SG group. The girls in the SG and LG groups consumed more food than the MG group.

Conclusions: The time spent on using the internet was associated with daily body conditions overall, and with the intake of soft drinks in the boys. However, no related differences were shown in the girls.